Manchester United have endured a difficult season, with many of Erik ten Hag’s first team squad struggling for form throughout the campaign.
Better things were expected from United after their third place finish last time out, but consistent inconsistency means Europa League football is the best they can hope for at the end of Ten Hag’s second season.
Only a handful of players can lay claim to having decent individual seasons and with just four league games remaining, returns to form will have to wait until next year.
However, despite the poor performances, two United stars have received votes for the prestigious Football Writers Association’s Footballer of the Year award.
As reported by The Daily Mail, Portuguese duo Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot were both named on the voted-for list.
16 other players received nominations across the league, with Manchester City’s Phil Foden the runaway winner, earning 42% of the overall votes.
Arsenal and England midfielder Declan Rice came second, with Rodri of City and Spain making up the top three.
Fernandes is no stranger to being shortlisted for such honours but the nomination for Dalot underlines a season of surprise progress for the full-back.
Dalot has also arguably been United’s Player of the Season this year, a remarkable turnaround for a player whose days looked numbered at Old Trafford.
Consistent rumours of Ten Hag upgrading his right back options have been rife since the Dutchman’s arrival, but Dalot has now made the position his own.
Despite the nominations, both players will be acutely aware of the discontent surrounding the season overall and will desperately hope to salvage something from the poor campaign by winning the FA Cup at the end of the month.
United travel to London for the showpiece occasion on May 25 in what will be a repeat of last year’s final against neighbours Manchester City.
Barring injury, Fernandes and Dalot are certainties to start at Wembley as United look to avenge the painful defeat in the same fixture last season.
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