It's been easy to focus on the negatives for Manchester United this week. The commanding position chucked away against Sevilla and the damaging run of injuries at a crucial time have made Erik ten Hag's job considerably tougher.
But there are silver linings to be found and one presented itself on the back of another moment of misfortune at the City Ground. Marcel Sabitzer won't see it that way, but his injury sustained in the warm-up against Nottingham Forest did at least allow for some familiarity to return to Ten Hag's side.
While United can field an XI of injured or suspended players this week, the return of Christian Eriksen between Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes in midfield acted as something of a comfort blanket. The top scorer is absent, both central defenders are crocked, there was a right-back at left-back, but Eriksen was pulling the strings once again.
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As well as Sabitzer has done recently, this is United's best midfield. The Austrian was only signed because of the ankle injury inflicted on Eriksen by Andy Carroll during the FA Cup win against Reading and he's been a reliable short-term signing, but he can't offer the same injection of quality that Eriksen can.
This start certainly came earlier than United had planned for, with Eriksen playing 13 minutes against Everton last week and nearly half an hour against Sevilla in midweek, but he didn't display any signs of rust.
When Mitchell van der Gaag approached him 15 minutes before kick-off and told him to be prepared for an elevation to the starting XI, he was spraying passes around with teenagers Marc Jurado and Zidane Iqbal. He distanced himself to go through his paces after that and was informed as he left the pitch he was coming into the team. It was like he'd never been away.
United didn't have it all their own way against an embattled Forest side. They had to weather an early storm, but once they had done so they took control of the game and the midfield was essential in that. Casemiro was good, Eriksen was excellent and Fernandes was outstanding. They were more than worthy of their 2-0 victory.
The control they had on the game is clear from their influence. Eriksen had 80 touches in his 79 minutes on the pitch, completing 55 of his 62 passes. He just made things look simple and kept the ball moving. Fernandes had 96 touches and Casemiro 54. The 68% share of possession United had was their highest in the Premier League since Eriksen's injury.
Eriksen's return is certainly a boost for United. With Fernandes suspended for this week's Europa League quarter-final second leg in Seville he will be required in the Ramon Sanchez Pijuan. He will have a big role to play against Brighton at Wembley next weekend, a side who like to dominate possession.
Sabitzer has given United something different in Eriksen's absence, as has Fred when he's been called upon to fill in. United haven't missed their free transfer from last summer as much as might have been expected.
But if Sabitzer and Fred bring energy to the middle of the pitch, then Eriksen provides the control. He can be a beacon of calm in chaotic Premier League games and that is just what United need. This was a difficult assignment, against a team fighting for their lives, and it had to be taken on with a weakened squad, but Eriksen steered United through it.
As Ten Hag has said with Anthony Martial recently, Eriksen is someone who can make United play better. It didn't feel coincidental that Fernandes produced such a good performance with his sparring partner on hand to exchange passes with. A goal was all that was missing from Fernandes' display.
The treatment room remains busy at Carrington, but the sight of Eriksen back in the team and back in control is enough to lift the spirits ahead of a vital week for United.
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