Aaron Wan-Bissaka moved to Man Utd for £50m in 2019 (Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images)
Mikael Silvestre has tipped Aaron Wan-Bissaka to play a big role for Manchester United in the second-half of the season.
Wan-Bissaka seemed destined for the exit door this January having scarcely featured for United since Erik ten Hag took charge.
Prior to the World Cup break, the right-back had played just four minutes of football this season, thanks partly to a back injury but mainly as his manager favoured the more attack-minded Diogo Dalot.
With several Premier League clubs reportedly interested in signing him, it seemed that Wan-Bissaka’s stay at Old Trafford was over just three-and-a-half years after his £50million move from Crystal Palace.
However, after Dalot returned from Qatar 2022 injured, Ten Hag was forced to call upon Wan-Bissaka as the season resumed, and the 25-year-old has made the most of this opportunity.
He started United’s first four games back, helping the Red Devils keep a clean sheet in all of them and even grabbed an assist in the Carabao Cup victory over Burnley.
‘It’s hard when you don’t play, to keep your fitness levels, your spirit up,’ former United defender Silvestre told bettingexpert.
Is Wan-Bissaka back in Erik ten Hag’s plans (Photo by Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)
‘But I think the fact that he [Wan-Bissaka] had time to work with the team during the World Cup was beneficial for him.
‘It allowed him to play on the same level as everyone else when the league restarted. He took advantage of that and his performances have been good.’
Wan-Bissaka was dropped to the bench in favour of the returning Dalot for United’s FA Cup win over Everton last Friday, but given his form could well start Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup quarter-final against Charlton.
Will Diogo Dalot start tonight vs Charlton (Photo by LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP via Getty Images)
Silvestre has certainly been impressed and has tipped the player to push Dalot for a place in the starting XI for the remainder of the campaign.
‘I still think Dalot will have the edge but Wan-Bissaka is showing that he can start any game,’ he added.
‘Wan-Bissaka is very good in 1-v-1, he showed it against Raheem Sterling at Man City last season. He lacked a bit of consistency and going forward, he doesn’t have the same flair as Dalot in the last third.
‘I think he can push the capacity to run up and down the pitch.
‘In the last third, Dalot is more predictive and efficient but Wan-Bissaka is a different type of player and he can definitely compete with Dalot for the rest of the season.’
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‘He is showing that he can start any game.’
