Diogo Dalot fist pumping to the crowd and clasping hands with his teammates for making a clearance goes down well when Manchester United win games - but not when they lose.

Dalot forced his way back into the starting team in 2023/24 and became one of the most consistent performers in the United side, starting in 35 games from a possible 38 in the Premier League and impressively managing to avoid injury, only being unavailable once through suspension.

The Players' Player of the Year award is decided by United's players and Dalot was a worthy winner of the prize, emerging with credit from a difficult and challenging season for the club.

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Dalot thought he played the best football of his career last season and his popularity was at an all-time high among supporters, but nine months is a long time in football and his form has worsened, which has contributed to calls for him to be replaced growing louder seemingly each week.

The change of system hasn't helped Dalot, although he played in that formation with Porto and didn't need to learn its intricacies for the first time when Ruben Amorim arrived.

Dalot has started 11 games at left wing-back with Amorim in charge and hasn't looked comfortable operating in the system, which heavily relies on having competent players in those roles.

The wing-back role is unique and has different demands to the traditional full-back position. In order for his system to function, Amorim needs his wing-backs to be high energy, and excellent in both attacking and defensive scenarios, but Dalot has struggled under his fellow countryman.

In November, a source admitted that Dalot was currently feeling the effects of a gruelling campaign, but they said he's the type of character to continue to give everything for the team.

Dalot's commitment cannot be questioned - but his quality can be questioned. He doesn't look suited to playing at left wing-back and would obviously welcome a relocation to the opposite side, although Noussair Mazraoui might be ahead of him in the pecking order in that position.

United are expected to sign a first choice left wing-back to replace Dalot in the summer and the Portugal international will have to fight with Mazraoui to start, but the former Bayern Munich defender had, admirably, delivered a 7/10 performance each week until wobbling recently.

Luke Shaw is expected to compete with that new left wing-back signing and Dalot and Mazraoui will compete on the right side. Mazraoui would be the pick ahead of Dalot for that role at this stage, given he's been used in that position more and his performances have been better this season.

Dalot lost his starting role to Aaron Wan-Bissaka with Erik ten Hag in charge and demonstrated character to claw his way back, but he might have to prove himself all over again.

United want to challenge for the Premier League title and won't come close to that ambition with Dalot starting as a wing-back, however, the majority of the players in the squad and nowhere near that level and United should clean their hands of others before looking at Dalot.

Although the 25-year-old is a useful squad player, he is a dedicated professional and is worth being kept, his days of starting each week for United in the Premier League seem numbered.

Amorim is learning more about his players after every lifeless performance and he's already seen enough of Dalot at wing-back to conclude he shouldn't be regularly starting next season.

There are major changes coming and the squad needs ripped apart. Dalot certainly won't be first to go, but something has gone wrong if he continues to start each game next season.