After two gritty away wins, confidence is growing at Manchester United, but this weekend they are set for their toughest test of the season so far when Arsenal make the trip to Old Trafford.
There has been something refreshing about the nature of United's back-to-back away victories, namely that they are grinding out results through sheer grit and determination, something they didn't manage at all last season.
A key part of this recent run has been an emphasis on the collective rather than the individual, with Erik ten Hag eager to instil a sense of unity into a side that is better known for being disjointed rather than United.
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This was summed up with his selection at Leicester. Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Maguire again started on the bench in favour of more effective options ahead of them, while the temptation to start Casemiro was also avoided, though he will likely be needed from the off on Sunday afternoon.
United need their best line-up to face the best side in the Premier League so far this season, and that means that Scott McTominay could be the unfortunate player to miss out, despite a recent resurgence.
Mere mention of the Scotland international can be enough for some to roll their eyes, but there can be no ignoring the quality of his recent performances for Ten Hag's side.
McTominay, 25, was the unsung hero of the Leicester win on Thursday night with a commanding and combative showing, excelling both in and out of possession.
The United academy graduate excelled at doing the dirty work of breaking up play with his tackling and interceptions and showed another side to his game with an impressive passing range that was crucial to their approach on the night.
Ten Hag's arrival initially looked like it could spell the end of McTominay as a starter, but he has risen to the challenge and heads into the Arsenal game buoyed by a rise in confidence that makes him, unbelievably, a viable alternative to Casemiro.
The United manager isn't the only key figure at the club who is a fan either. Speaking earlier in the year, assistant manager Steve McClaren gave his verdict on the current squad and, in particular, why the Scotland international is such a valuable asset to the side.
“You put him on the field and he delivers," he told talkSPORT in January. "He’s a Manchester United player, seven or eight out of ten every week. That’s what makes a Manchester United player.
“He breaks up play, he’s box-to-box, he’s got energy, attitude, can deal with the ball, gets into the box and can score goals, he’s doing very well.”
There is certainly more to come from McTominay in an attacking aspect this season, but what has been so encouraging is that he has built upon his reputation as a hard-working midfielder with the technical prowess to go with it.
Casemiro will certainly need to be integrated in the coming weeks after his high-profile move from Real Madrid, though having fierce competition from the Scot can only be a good thing for the squad dynamic.
There is a reason he has been backed by four successive managers at United, and it is credit to McTominay that he will feel hard done by if he loses his starting spot on Sunday.
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