Diogo Dalot clocked up his 24th consecutive start for Manchester United during Sunday's hard-fought 1-0 win over West Ham United at Old Trafford.
The right-back has become one of the very first names on the United teamsheet this season, proving invaluable to Erik ten Hag. His overall game has rapidly improved since the Dutchman came in, both offensively and defensively.
His performance against West Ham was nothing short of outstanding. He was brilliant at both ends of the pitch, with his headed clearances to deny what looked like being two certain goals in the second half summing up his performance. He has started every game since Ten Hag got the job and has eased fears that United need to upgrade their right-back options.
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Ahead of the summer transfer window, the right-back berth was identified by most United supporters as an area of concern. The Reds had struggled for consistency in that position under former interim manager Ralf Rangnick last season, with the German regularly rotating between Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who has become something of a forgotten man this term, and Dalot.
Dalot was always considered as the more likely candidate to start ahead of Wan-Bissaka under Ten Hag, but many United fans reserved doubts over whether he had the quality to be a regular starter under the Dutchman. The addition of a new right-sided full-back was considered as more of a necessity than the left-sided full-back United actually signed in the form of Tyrell Malacia.
But Dalot has proved his doubters wrong in every way imaginable, producing a string of excellent performances. Wan-Bissaka, though he has been sidelined in recent weeks with an unspecified injury, is understood not to feature in Ten Hag's plans.
He has played just once this season, stepping off the bench late on in the 2-1 win over Liverpool in August. Such is his position of being out-of-favour, United lack strong competition and cover at right-back for Dalot, who is only one Premier League booking away from collecting a one-match ban.
And it would appear that Ten Hag is mindful of the fact that United need to strengthen their options at right-back, judging by comments he made while raving about Dalot's performance following the win over West Ham.
"I'm really happy with the development of Diogo," Ten Hag told Sky Sports. "He's done really well. As you [Gary Neville] mentioned, you played in that position yourself, so you can be critical because you know how to play there, but I think his defending positions are growing from game to game. His timing, also his duels, is better from game to game.
"In possession, I think he's really good and he has the breath to go up and down [the wing]. The development is really good, but I have to mention that a club like Manchester United needs two good full-backs, because we have a lot of games to cover."
When you consider that Dalot has started every game so far this season for United and is likely to start at right-back for Portugal at the World Cup, the 23-year-old will reach a stage where he will require a breather, particularly if Portugal go deep into the tournament. Therefore, adding a new right-back to his squad in January could be a leading priority for Ten Hag.
But while you would have expected United, in the summer, to have recruited a new right-back with the intention of him being first choice, heading up the pecking order in that position, Dalot's form has meant that the possibility of exploring the signing of a new right-back would be for a back-up role. Nevertheless, it is a position that needs strength in depth.
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