Marcel Sabitzer's new Manchester United role in midweek impressed pundit Ian Wright but potentially paved the way for fresh problems at Old Trafford.
Austria midfielder Sabitzer joined on loan from Bayern Munich at the end of the January transfer window as cover for the injured Christian Eriksen. While Eriksen is closing in on a return to first-team action, the new arrival has been a regular fixture in matchday squads under Erik ten Hag.
Wednesday's victory over Brentford saw the 29-year-old thrive in a less familiar number 10 role, potentially strengthening his case for a permanent move over the summer after hinting at a switch. However, this could end up providing selection dilemmas for a manager who has regularly used Bruno Fernandes as the more advanced of his midfielders.
"You have to say, Sabitzer came up with the goods," Wright told Premier League Productions. "With the assist and in certain other areas, he was getting into pockets, making some nice little moves and always making himself available."
Fernandes was also involved in the midweek win, but the Portugal international often dropped deeper. It was Sabitzer who laid on the winning goal for Marcus Rashford before making way for Fred in the final 20 minutes.
Ten Hag may consider the problem to be a welcome one, and Wright was certainly impressed. "He got taken off in the end but I thought he did more than enough tonight in that number 10 position," the ex-England striker added.
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Sabitzer was mostly used as a substitute by parent club Bayern in the first half of the season but has enjoyed more game time in England. Five of his seven Premier League appearances have been starts, while he also came off the bench as Ten Hag's team won the Carabao Cup final.
According to Sky Sport in Germany, the midfielder is keen to make the move permanent. Sabitzer is said to feel 'comfortable' at Old Trafford, with talks expected to begin in the coming weeks.
A return to Bayern remains unlikely, those same reports claim, despite the Bavarian club parting ways with manager Julian Nagelsmann and installing Thomas Tuchel in his place. United aren't the only interested party, with 'many' Premier League clubs said to have made enquiries, though Sabitzer's time in Manchester could yet give United the upper hand.
Several of Sabitzer's starts have come in the absence of Casemiro, with the Brazilian midfielder twice serving red card suspensions since the turn of the year. Saturday's meeting with Everton represents the final game of the former Real Madrid star's current ban, and three points would ensure United remain in the top four when he returns.
