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After a poor start to the season, Manchester United's ship has steadied since the arrival of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Manchester United were 11 points off the top-4 spots when Solskjaer took over the reins from Jose Mourinho, but a good run of results in the Premier League has given them a real chance of playing Champions League football next season. The Red Devils are just 3 points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, with 6 league games remaining in the season
Many key players of the squad have looked revitalised under the Norwegian and have been performing to the best of their potential since his arrival. In this list, we pick 5 of Manchester United's most influential players and determine which of them is most likely to win the Sir Matt Busby's Player of the Year award for his performances this season.
#5 Marcus Rashford:
Marcus Rashford didn't have the best of starts to the season but has been in sensational form in recent times, especially since the arrival of Solskjaer. The 21-year-old has been playing in his preferred number 9 position since the Norwegian took reins of the club and has produced some of his best performances in that position. The Englishman has hit double figures in terms of goals this season, scoring 13 so far across all competitions. The striker has chipped in with some important goals and was a key figure in the historic comeback win against Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 second leg, scoring a vital last-minute penalty to carry his side through to the quarter-finals. His stellar performances this season makes him one of the candidates for Sir Matt Busby's Player of the Year award.
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#4 Chris Smalling:
Chris Smalling receives a lot of hate from the Manchester United supporters as many think that he is not good enough to play for the Red Devils. But the 29-year-old gives his all on the pitch whenever he puts on the Manchester United shirt. The England international has so far made 28 appearances in all competitions for United this season.
Smalling is dominant in the air and has won 4 aerial duels per game in all competitions this season, which makes him the ideal candidate to play alongside Victor Lindelof at the back. He never shies away from a challenge and will throw his body on the line in order to prevent the ball from going into the back of the net. He has been one of the standout players this season for Manchester United and deserves to be on this list. It's time for the fans to start showing Smalling the respect he deserves for his efforts on the pitch.
#3 Paul Pogba:
Manchester United splashed £89 million on Paul Pogba back in 2016, making him the world's most expensive player at that time. Pogba showed glimpses of his talent but was too inconsistent with his performances. The Frenchmen started the season on a high but his performances dropped and he found himself on the bench during the final weeks of Mourhino's reign. But he has transformed into one of the best centre-midfielders in the world since the arrival of Solskjaer. The Norwegian has pushed him in a more attacking position, allowing him to create much more in the final third on the pitch. The 26-year-old has scored 13 goals and has contributed another 10 assists so far this season. The midfielder has been Manchester United's talisman, dominating the midfield for them. The World Cup winner will surely be in the running for Manchester United's Player of the Year award, following his recent performances.
#2 Luke Shaw:
Luke Shaw was considered one of the best young full-backs in England when Manchester United bought him for €37.5 million back in 2014. But the left-back suffered a horrific injury back in 2015 which halted his progress. The injury had its after-effects and Shaw found himself sidelined more often than not. He struggled to get back into the starting 11 and was publicly criticised by Mourinho for his performances last season.
But Shaw worked hard and has rediscovered his form and fitness this season. He has been defensively solid as well as brilliant going forward. The 23-year-old has been Manchester United's most consistent performer throughout the season and has started 26 out of 32 games in the Premier League this season. The left-back has also been recalled into the England squad. His hard work and perseverance have transformed him into one of Premier League's best left-backs this season.
#1 Victor Lindelof:
The centre-back had a shaky start his Manchester United career. He struggled to adapt to the pace and physicality of the Premier League and found himself mostly on the bench during his first season at the club. But the defender was determined to prove his worth to the Old Trafford faithful.
His performances have drastically improved in the past 12 months and the 24-year-old has transformed into a key figure for the Red Devils, making 34 appearances for United across all competitions this season. The Swede compliments Solskjaer's style of football and is comfortable playing from the back. The 'ice-man' has been solid at the back, producing brilliant defensive displays against some of the best footballing sides in Europe. Lindelof has been United's best player this season and is the most deserving candidate for the Manchester United's Player of the Year award.
