The defender has made a stunning comeback for Manchester United and is giving Erik then healthy food for thought for the future.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka's revival offers Erik ten Hag a solution
Aaron Wan-Bissaka's recovery offers Erik ten Hag a solution (Image: Photo Prestige/Soccrates/Getty Images)
If you suggested over a Christmas Day meal that Aaron Wan-Bissaka would be the starting right-back against Manchester City, Arsenal and Barcelona (twice), you'd be laughed out of the dining room.
But now that some of us are picking up the remains of Shrove Tuesday pancakes, we can judge that his 16 appearances after the World Cup were justified. His assist in United's opener in their 4-2 win over Burnley in their first game back from the mid-season break was no flash in the pan.
He has started 12 games since the win over the Clarets and has kept nine clean sheets in that time. Post-Qatar injuries to Diogo Dalot allowed Wan-Bissak to have a clear run at right-back, but now the in-form Portugal international is looking to regain a firm grip.
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The Englishman's form actually solves the problem for his manager as well. Wan-Bissaka appeared destined for an exit over the summer as United struggled to find suitors.
None came and illness and injury meant the defender was given just four minutes of football in the first half of the season. We agreed that his United days were numbered and Ten Hag certainly needed to dip into the market for competition for the improved Dalot.
The mid-season break undoubtedly provided a golden opportunity for a reset for Wan-Bissaka, and the defender has taken his time back in the first team. Not only is he now providing competition to Dalot, but he has somewhat usurped him in recent weeks.
Dalot played just 23 minutes in both games against Barcelona, despite starting the last three league games. The two stars are now battling each other for playing time, which is exactly what The Hag wanted.
Amid Wan-Bissaka's exclusion earlier in the campaign, Ten Hag issued a challenge to the 25-year-old. He said at the start of September: “Aaron has shown in the past that he is a constant factor at United.
“From what I've heard and noticed from the past, it's a good choice. He's been training and he needs to challenge for a position." Wan-Bissaka completes the task.
More promisingly for Ten Hag, both right backs offer different attributes. Dalot is more focused going forward, scoring once and assisting three more, while Wan-Bissaka has dealt with the attacking threat of Sergi Roberto, Phil Foden and Gabriel Martinelli defensively in crunch games.
The full-back has his confidence back and is no longer a dead certainty to leave this summer. He may also be given a start in Sunday's League Cup final against Newcastle - it would be the first time he has played at Wembley in front of a packed house after doing so behind closed doors in the 2020 FA Cup semi-final defeat to Chelsea. .
By Easter, if he doesn't leave with egg on his face, he could be a solid first-choice defender for United if his current trajectory of form continues.
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