At around 5.30pm ten days ago,
Manchester United were out of Europe, their League Cup defence had ended at the second hurdle and they were minutes away from going out of the FA Cup . Within an hour, United had a spring in their step heading into the spring internationals. They will be back at Wembley next month against second-tier Coventry City and a return to the national stadium in May is probable. The state of play in the
Premier League table is not as ominous after the back-to-back defeats to Fulham and Manchester City. Aston Villa, nine points ahead in fourth having played a game more, are wobbling and
Tottenham are wont to bottling. United have ten league fixtures left to secure qualification for the
Champions League and there is the prospect of a second successive all-Manchester FA Cup final. What must also encourage manager Erik ten Hag is several players are in encouraging form as United gear up for the run-in. Here are how the players have rated so far this season: READ MORE: Amad has proved United right after what they said READ MORE: Ferguson is still right about Southgate as a manager Andre Onana Admitted his first seven months were mentally difficult and it cannot be a coincidence he looks more assured since returning from a chastening Africa Cup of Nations. Starting to show why United bought him after those costly Champions League performances. 6 Diogo Dalot Nearing the form he showed in the first third of last season. One of only three outfield players who have avoided injury and he is managing the balance between defence and attack impressively. 7 Aaron Wan-Bissaka Two lengthy lay-offs have made it a forgettable season so far but, as the only other fit full back, he is poised to have a starting role in the run-in. 5 Raphael Varane He has not missed a game through injury in more than four months and that dubious run of one start in 13 games feels distant now. Improving with every month. 6 Lisandro Martinez Suffered two luckless impact injuries that have reduced him to nine starts in nearly a year. United will be a better side when he is back. 5 Harry Maguire Shown commendable resilience to play as often as he has, having been up for sale in the summer. His form was variable after he returned to start in February but he is more important to United this season than last season. 6 Maguire has improved after two poor seasons Victor Lindelof Had a reasonable quota of games despite the competition and has had to fill in at full back. His performance level has been largely unspectacular and he may be a bit-part player over the coming months with Martinez, Maguire and Wan-Bissaka back. 5 Jonny Evans For a fifth-choice centre half who turned 36 in January and was beset by injury in a relegated side last season, Evans's return to United has been a striking success story. United went to pot when he went off against
Manchester City and Evans was due to start in the FA Cup tie against Liverpool. 8 Luke Shaw Invariably shown his quality when he has started but he has not started enough. Still too brittle as he approaches his 10th anniversary at the club and he must reassess his conditioning. 4 Casemiro His form has not differed much since he returned from injury and United have coping mechanisms without him. Scored an important winner against Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup but this could be his last season at the club. 4 Kobbie Mainoo Already one of England's best midfielders and one of the best midfielders in
England. Mainoo was man of the match on his full Premier League debut, brilliant home and away against
Liverpool and he flourished at Molineux, Villa Park and Kenilworth Road. The only pity is he missed the first three months of the campaign with an ankle injury. 8 Mainoo and Garnacho are frontrunners for the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award Scott McTominay Nine goals and all of them have been vital. Ten Hag has ended the debate over McTominay's role and United's moments squad player is poised to break double figures for goals in a season. 7 Christian Eriksen Produced two fine performances off the bench against Copenhagen and Liverpool. Beyond those, this has been a comedown of a second season after such a fine first campaign with United. 4 Sofyan Amrabat He has become so inconsequential he was unused across two hours against Liverpool even though he was the only available defensive midfielder. Apart from coasting through a League Cup win against Crystal Palace at left back, Amrabat has looked out of his depth. 3 Mason Mount Back and bright against Liverpool but he needs a storming finale to salvage what has been a horrendous first season at United so far. Played in 13 games out of a possible 40. 2 Bruno Fernandes Never injured and never goes into hiding. Scored key winning goals in the first third of the season and has demonstrated time and again he is a worthy captain with his selflessness. 7 Fernandes is a worthy United captain (Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images) Antony One-paced, one-dimensional and with one trick - until his right foot potentially changed the course of United's season. Might be worth a go at left back after his disciplined stint there against Liverpool. 3 Alejandro Garnacho Another talisman who is never injured and never goes into hiding. Garnacho is still only 19 but performs with a maturity that suggests he is ten years older. His performance against Liverpool was patchy yet he was still involved in three of United's four goals. Has to be the frontrunner for the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award. 8 Marcus Rashford What a difference a stonking goal makes. Rashford has scored in the past three matches and his athleticism was pivotal in the comeback against Liverpool. Has time to ensure his season is a personal success. 5 Rasmus Hojlund Was fulfilling his potential in February, which he ended with the Premier League Player of the Month. Thirteen goals in the Premier League and Champions League is good going three-quarters of the way through the season for a callow striker at the time of arrival. 7 Anthony Martial Not been seen on the pitch in nearly four months. His removal against Bournemouth was celebrated by matchgoers and hardly any of them will be hoping Martial plays for United again. Should have been sold years ago. 1 Ratings are assigned individually and players must have started at least five games