Daley Blind Making a Case to Become Manchester United's 1st-Choice Left-Back

Manager Louis van Gaal spent more than £150 million improving Manchester United's squad in the summer.

He brought in six new players to help meet his target of finishing in the Premier League's top four. And after six successive league wins, he's on the brink of securing United's place in next season's UEFA Champions League.

But the team that's got him there is one he looks to have stumbled upon. Wayne Rooney might never have been moved back up front had Robin van Persie not suffered an ankle injury at Swansea.

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Juan Mata might not have been given his new role on the right of midfield had Angel Di Maria not picked up a suspension for his red card against Arsenal.

Meanwhile, Daley Blind might still be playing in midfield rather than left-back if Marcos Rojo and Luke Shaw hadn't been sidelined.

It's not a new role for Blind. He played the position at Ajax and was used as a left wing-back with the Netherlands at the World Cup.

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But with Rojo and Shaw signed for a combined £43 million in the summer, the 25-year-old perhaps thought he would spend most of his time at Old Trafford in midfield. He did until Shaw and Rojo were ruled out of the game with Tottenham last month.

After four straight wins for United, including victories over Liverpool and Manchester City, Shaw, in particular, might find it difficult to get back into the team when he returns to full fitness.

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Blind lacks pace, but he makes up for it with his tactical nous and positioning. Up against Jesus Navas—one of the quickest players in the league—in the derby, he was caught out just once in the opening five minutes. The Dutchman played so well defensively that it was Navas' only real involvement.

Going forward, it was Blind's first-time pass into Rooney's feet that started the move leading to Mata scoring United's third. City were undone as much by Blind's quickness of thought as Rooney's pass or Mata's clever finish.

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Blind isn't an explosive left-back in the way Patrice Evra was. He's more measured and thoughtful but just as functional.

He was signed from Ajax to fill the gaping hole in midfield left over from Sir Alex Ferguson's reign. It became even more necessary when Michael Carrick was ruled out of the first three months of the season with an ankle injury.

With that said, he's having some of his best games in a United shirt as a makeshift left-back. So good, in fact, that he may not be makeshift for very long.