Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag must be braced for questions over summer signing Casemiro depending on the result against Manchester City this Sunday afternoon.
With bragging rights up for grabs for the first time this season, United are set to visit the Etihad Stadium and do so following four straight Premier League wins. During that stretch, midfielders Scott McTominay and Christian Eriksen have formed an impressive partnership in the engine room with Bruno Fernandes operating as No.10.
Going up against star-studded City will tempt Ten Hag into deploying Casemiro in a more defence-minded system, according to pundit Danny Murphy. Casemiro has yet to start in the Premier League since his move from Real Madrid for an initial €60million this summer window.
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Writing in his latest BBC Sport column, former Liverpool midfielder Murphy said: "Manchester United's midfield has played a big part in the recent resurgence by Erik ten Hag's side — but it's absolutely crucial he gets that area right at Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
"Ten Hag has to decide whether he keeps both Christian Eriksen and Bruno Fernandes in there against Manchester City or chooses a more defensive-minded set-up and goes with two proper holding players this time.
"With a player as good as Casemiro waiting in the wings for his first league start, the temptation must be to partner him with Scott McTominay to give extra protection."
Murphy added: "But if Ten Hag does that and leaves one of his more creative players out, then if United lose he will be asked why he changed a winning team and didn't go for it more [in an attacking sense].
"I think Ten Hag will stick with Eriksen and Fernandes — because of how well they've been playing — but if he doesn't change anything and loses, then he will face similar questions.
"People will say why bring in Casemiro and not use him in a game like this?"
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