After a tough start to the new year, when Wolves came away from Old Trafford with all three points, Ralf Rangnick’s side finished January strongly, with consecutive Premier League wins over Brentford and West Ham ensuring the Reds ended the month in the top four.

Progression to the Emirates FA Cup fourth round was also secured, after a narrow 1-0 win over Aston Villa in M16. That victory was followed up with a tough 2-2 draw at Villa Park in the league five days later.

Although it was disappointing to let a two-goal lead slip that day, there were still a number of impressive individual performances, as there have been across the month.

Diogo Dalot and Raphael Varane have starred at the back as the Reds have continued the defensive improvement seen in December, while Fred has established himself as a creative no.8 in Rangnick’s new 4-3-3 system, assisting three of United’s seven goals in January.

However, we’ve settled on a four-man shortlist for the Player of the Month prize, starting with a man who is bidding for a third consecutive win…

DAVID DE GEA: 5 appearances, 2 clean sheets

The victor for November and December was once again at his best, making 22 saves across four league games. That tally means he has now stopped more shots than any other keeper in the top flight this season. While De Gea’s heroics went unrewarded as Wolves nicked a late winner at the beginning of the month, the Spaniard was a one-man wall during the first half at Brentford, keeping the Bees out before United blew the home side away after the break. David had a quieter game at the weekend when West Ham came to town, but still had to be on his toes to prevent Varane inadvertently putting the ball into his own net.

ANTHONY ELANGA: 5 appearances, 1 goal

Elanga started January as an impact substitute and ended it being serenaded by the Old Trafford faithful after a third consecutive Reds start. The Sweden youth international has made the most of the chance given to him by Rangnick and was unlucky not to make it on to the scoresheet during the 2-2 draw with Villa. He caused Matty Cash, the Villa right-back, problems through that game and was retained for the trip to Brentford, where he opened the scoring with a well-taken header, after flicking the ball up and above Bees’ keeper Jonas Lossl. You won't stop him if you dare!

BRUNO FERNANDES: 5 appearances, 2 goals

After a quiet couple of months by his lofty standards, Bruno was back to his inspirational best in the month he celebrated two years as a United player. His brace while wearing the captain’s armband at Villa was a personal highlight, despite the 27-year-old insisting after the draw that goals and assists meant nothing if the team didn’t win. Days later, he laid on decisive strikes for Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford in west London and this time Fernandes and United were able to celebrate the victory.

SCOTT MCTOMINAY: 4 appearances, 1 goal

McTominay is fast becoming one of the first names on the teamsheet in Rangnick’s side. Scott has embraced his role as Ralf’s ‘no.6’, sitting behind Fred and Fernandes in the midfield, and he was arguably United’s best outfield player when returning from a one-match suspension at Brentford. Prior to that, he’d nodded in an early winner to knock Steven Gerrard’s Villa out of the FA Cup – the second year in a row Scott has headed home the only goal of a third-round tie at Old Trafford.

HOW TO VOTE

Simply select your favourite in the poll above. We’ll announce the winner on Monday 31 January.