Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has spoken positively about the competition for places in his side as his full-backs all continue to perform at a high level when called upon.
The Reds have typically operated with Diogo Dalot and Luke Shaw at right-back and left-back respectively this season. However, with the former having been sidelined with an injury, and the latter sometimes playing at centre-back, both Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Tyrell Malacia have enjoyed minutes in recent weeks.
Prior to Dalot's injury, Wan-Bissaka appeared surplus to requirement and was expected to leave the club in this month's transfer window, but the defender has performed well in the past few matches and has demonstrated that he can be a competent deputy for the Portuguese ace.
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Malacia, meanwhile, featured heavily at the start of the campaign but fell behind Shaw in the pecking order at Old Trafford. The Dutchman played the full 90 minutes in the Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg win over Nottingham Forest in midweek, and he could start again for United against Reading in the FA Cup on Saturday.
With Shaw, Malacia and Dalot all having played more than 20 games this term - and Wan-Bissaka having performed well recently - Ten Hag is understandably pleased with his options in that department.
"I think what you see is Diogo and Luke play on a really high level but it’s good to know that the depth in the squad is so good that those two come in and they can compete for their position, with Luke and with Diogo," he told club media.
"That is very good for a squad, that the internal competition is there. Everyone has to give their best to be in a team and to play a lot of games, but also from a tactical approach they are different types of players, so sometimes we can pick a player for the tactical approach."
Shaw missed the win over Steve Cooper's side with illness, so it would not come as a surprise to see Malacia continue at left-back on Saturday night. Meanwhile, with Dalot still out with a hamstring injury, Wan-Bissaka is expected to start against Paul Ince's men.
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