Erik ten Hag's brutal decision has been proven right about Manchester United's unsung hero

Few would have anticipated Harry Maguire being in the conversation for Manchester United's Player of the Season award at the start of the campaign.

But with exactly a month of the season remaining, he is establishing himself as one of the leading candidates to land the prestigious gong. He made another telling contribution in Wednesday night's 4-2 win over Sheffield United, scoring United's opener and then winning the penalty for their second.

Maguire, who has faced unjustified criticism and ridicule at various junctures in recent years, has been one of United's best players this season. He is a legitimate contender for the Player of the Season prize, along with the likes of Diogo Dalot, Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho.

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Maguire ended last season facing an uncertain future at Old Trafford, having fallen well down the centre-back pecking order. He is in contention to end this season at the top of it.

Of course, an unprecedented injury crisis in the heart of the defence has bolstered his chances of reclaiming his place in the team, but his campaign has been one that has seen him perform an unlikely U-turn. United need to make changes at centre-back in this summer's transfer window and it is expected the club will search for a new long-term partner for Lisandro Martinez in the event of Raphael Varane's contract not being renewed.

There is also a firm argument to suggest either Victor Lindelof or Maguire will be sold to generate funds. While the latter would almost certainly command a higher price tag, he is not the player United should be actively looking to sell at this stage.

Maguire has been a pillar of trust for Erik ten Hag this season, rarely letting him down. He has also remained highly professional, refusing to kick up a fuss at the start of the season when minutes were limited.

Furthermore, it would have been easy for the former Leicester City man to push hard for an exit last summer after being informed by Ten Hag he would have to surrender the captain's armband on a permanent basis to Bruno Fernandes. The latter carried the honour for much of last season as Maguire struggled for minutes.

Making that decision, Ten Hag said that he felt removing that extra weight of pressure and expectancy would help Maguire focus on his main tasks as a defender. While there is no doubt he remains a leader within the dressing room, removing the weight of the armband was a sensible decision by the United manager.

Ten Hag, speaking last July, said: "It's less responsibility in that perspective, we need more than 11 players, we need that competition so he can fight himself in the team, he has potential, it's up to him to get his position.

"Now we can focus more on his role but centre back has to communicate, organise, it's a big area where you have to perform as a centre half, there is prevention that you have to come into action."

As stated, a plethora of injury issues have helped Maguire's case to become a regular starter again, with the defender starting 24 of the 30 matches he has featured in this season. However, he has performed to a high standard, played through the pain barrier in recent weeks, soldering on while injured against Bournemouth and Coventry City, and chipped in with four goals.

He was arguably United's best player as they capitulated at Wembley on Sunday and was solid once again against his former employer on Wednesday night. Being free of the captaincy, although it must have been a difficult decision to accept, has, in many ways, given him a new lease of life, allowing him to concentrate that little bit more on his main on-field tasks without carrying an extra weight of expectation.

He is still unlikely to be a long-term figure within Sir Jim Ratcliffe's plans to take the club forward, but he is certainly a player who could stick around next season and play his part as the evolution unfolds. He has been excellent this season and his United career has been rekindled, with hard work and dedication at the forefront of his efforts.

In a season that has been filled with disappointments and negativity, Maguire deserves credit where credit's due, as does Ten Hag for stripping him of the armband. It was a wise choice that United and Maguire have benefited from.