When Tyrell Malacia started at right-back in place of the suspended Diogo Dalot for Manchester United's 2-1 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage back in November, the writing was on the wall for Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
The former Crystal Palace man, despite being one of just two senior right-backs in United's squad, had earned just four minutes worth of football all season and had not been included in a Premier League matchday squad since the end of August. He had slid down the pecking order and was evidently not in Erik ten Hag's plans.
The Dutchman's decision to field a left-sided full-back on the right side of the back-four was telling, though it was not unexpected. Wan-Bissaka's United career, it seemed, had reached its conclusion and he found himself in a position where he was counting down the days until the January transfer window opened for business, paving the way for him to seal an exit.
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But with just 11 days of the window to go, Wan-Bissaka now seems as likely to leave Old Trafford before the bell as Casemiro is. From almost nowhere, the 25-year-old has set about trying to resurrect his United career, delivering a string of impressive performances.
Unlike when Dalot was unavailable for the trip to Fulham just over two months ago, Ten Hag, in recent weeks, has put faith in Wan-Bissaka and given him the chance to prove his worth, changing the general opinion about his immediate future at Old Trafford. He has helped the Reds chalk up five clean sheets since the campaign resumed exactly a month ago, playing a key role in helping them tighten their grip on a top-four berth and reach the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup.
His performance against his former club on Wednesday was worthy of any Man of the Match award. Not only did he produce a heroic, game-saving tackle to deny Wilfried Zaha a certain goal in the dying seconds, but he bombed forward at every given opportunity and actually carried a bigger threat than Antony did in front of him.
His impressive showing against Palace came just four days after he sent some of Manchester City's most polished stars one way and then another during the second half of United's derby win at Old Trafford. He oozed confidence to nutmeg Bernardo Silva, nip away from Rodri and then pinch the ball away from the outstretched leg of Joao Cancelo all in the space of just a few seconds.
It was the sign of a player whose confidence had been rediscovered, meaning he will - depending on Dalot's fitness - probably reclaim the right-back berth and have a part to play between now and the end of the campaign. His renaissance in recent weeks has offered encouragement for other players who have struggled for minutes so far this season and for those who have lost their mojo, not least Jadon Sancho.
Signed for an eye-watering fee of £72.9million in July 2021, Sancho's arrival at Old Trafford was greeted with a wave of excitement, such was the rapid progress he had made at Borussia Dortmund and his sky-high potential. But aside from showing the odd glimpse here and there in the second half of last season under Ralf Rangnick and looking promising on the pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia last summer, United are yet to see the best of him.
Sancho was signed to solve United's long-term right-wing problems, meaning it must have been difficult for him when the club, just 13 months later, invested an even bigger fee in signing Antony from Ajax. However, he had not delivered and Ten Hag felt the club must do something to strengthen that side of the pitch.
But instead of choosing to sit back and give up on his United career, Sancho, with the support of Ten Hag, has done something about his struggles. He worked on an individual training programme in the Netherlands, working with coaches recommended to him by Ten Hag, during the World Cup break, and has since returned to Carrington to gear up for a return to the squad in the near future.
Time will, of course, tell if Ten Hag's blueprint for the England international pays off, though it will be important not to expect too much too soon. He is yet to prove his worth in United colours, but with Ten Hag's guidance and coaching methods that could quickly change.
There are differences between his and Wan-Bissaka's situations, not least in the sense that United have never once signalled any intentions to offload the winger. However, each of their careers have stalled at Old Trafford.
Ten Hag has got Wan-Bissaka going again and there is no reason why Sancho cannot follow in the same vein.
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