Later today, Manchester United will play host to Brighton and Hove Albion at the Amex in an effort to maintain their quest for Champions League qualifying. The Seagulls have won the last two encounters between the two clubs in the Premier League.

However, it was the Old Trafford team that prevailed in the most recent FA Cup semi-final match against Roberto De Zerbi’s team, with Victor Lindelof scoring the game-winning penalty after Solly March’s agonising miss.

The Red Devils had to put on a spirited effort against the south coast side, and the Englishman’s misdirected penalty kick was all that stood between the two teams in that round of 16 matchup.

Erik ten Hag may decide to start Aaron Wan-Bissaka again because the matchup between the teams is expected to be close this time. The £50 million player was outstanding against the opponents today at Wembley.

Will Wan-Bissaka take the pitch for Brighton?

Even though there are still concerns about the 25-year-old’s long-term future at the Theatre of Dreams, there have been recent rumours that he might be sold if the team can find a more attack-minded replacement. Nevertheless, the Englishman has shown in recent months that he can be more than a valuable asset to Ten Hag in the short term.

The energetic Kaoru Mitoma was at Wembley, and Wan-Bissaka, a former member of Crystal Palace, rose to the task of trying to contain him. Mitoma later referred to Wan-Bissaka as a “strong opponent” after that engaging match.

The Leicester City playmaker James Maddison later tweeted during the game that the full-back is “probably the best in the world” at one-on-one defence after the United star made a notable sliding challenge to deny the Japanese winger at one point.

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The defensive “monster,” as talent scout Jacke Kulig had previously referred to him, managed to frequently frustrate Mitoma and company while winning seven out of his eight overall duels.

This ‘impressive’ and ‘composed’ performance, according to Jamie Jackson of The Guardian, also saw the 6 foot menace offer a rare threat in an attacking sense after completing all four of his attempted dribbles, including a’spirited’ run down the right flank, according to Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst.

The Croydon-born machine missed the weekend victory over Aston Villa after starting in the 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur just a few days earlier. However, now might be a good time for him to be thrown right back into the action from the opening kickoff, helping to keep Mitoma at bay once more.