Casemiro will play no part in Manchester United’s meeting with table-toppers Arsenal on Sunday after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season against Crystal Palace.
Premier League rules state a player who picks up five yellow cards in their club’s first 19 matches will be suspended for one game. United’s 1-1 draw with Palace on Wednesday evening was their 19th league match of the season.
The five-card threshold is raised to 10 beyond this milestone, with the punishment stretching to a two-game ban within a team's first 32 matches. But that comes as no consolation to Erik ten Hag who will have to travel to the Emirates on Sunday without one of his best players.
READ MORE: Palace vs United LIVE
Casemiro brought down the on-rushing Wilfried Zaha nine minutes from time to go into the notebook, with both the player and Ten Hag clearly aware of the repercussions.
It turned out to be an agonising end to the game for the visitors who conceded a thunderous free-kick from Michael Olise seconds into added time.
And then, in the final minute of stoppage time, Casemiro couldn't quite turn home a cross from just yards out as he watched the ball bounce away off target. The Brazilian had been excellent in his play for most of the match and his loss will be felt against Arsenal.
Casemiro will be available for the reverse league fixture against Palace at Old Trafford on February 4, as well as both of the League Cup semi-final legs with Nottingham Forest and the FA Cup fourth round clash with Reading.
READ NEXT:
