Manager Erik ten Hag stated on Friday that Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay are the best players for Manchester United to emulate if they want to get a spot in the starting lineup.

The two have been playing well lately.

When the season began, United was in serious trouble, but four victories in a row have helped to right the ship for Ten Hag, who was crowned Premier League manager of the month for November when the team had a perfect record.

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When defender Maguire dropped down the pecking order over the off-season, he was severely chastised and on the point of leaving the team, but he decided to stick around and battle for his spot.

Ten Hag’s first-choice defenders were injured when he eventually returned, and the England center-back helped United keep three clean sheets to win Player of the Month.

“We have a squad and there’s internal competition. If you want to have a successful season you need more than 11 players.

“It will change throughout the season,” Ten Hag told reporters ahead of Saturday’s home game against Bournemouth.

“Scott and Harry played themselves into the team. That’s the dedication you expect from every player.”

With five league goals, McTominay has surpassed all of United’s strikers combined in scoring for the team.

Ten Hag expressed his unsurprised in the Scotland international’s goal-scoring prowess.

“From the first moment I saw Scott, he has a very good smell to get in the box and he’s a very good finisher,” he said.

“That’s not a surprise. When we get the balls there, he will finish.”

On the other hand, England forward Marcus Rashford has netted only twice in this campaign despite scoring 30 times for United in all competitions last season.

Rashford was dropped from the starting lineup against Chelsea but Ten Hag is confident the 26-year-old will return to form soon.

“Rashford is an incredibly good player. You can’t do it with 11 players and he can’t play every game. He’s not in the form he was last year but I’m sure he will get there,” he said.

“It’s up to the players (to get back into the team). The team will line themselves up and the best players who form the best team will play.”