Manchester United are under pressure to secure a victory as they host Newcastle United at Old Trafford tonight.
The Red Devils are languishing in 14th position in the Premier League standings, having won just one of their last five games.
They face a rejuvenated Newcastle side aiming for a top-four finish after an impressive recent run of results.
United’s quest for maximum points against the Magpies has been made more challenging by the absence of Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte, who are both suspended for tonight’s game.
As highlighted in this predicted line-up, Casemiro is expected to step into the defensive midfield role in place of Ugarte.
Ugarte has been a standout performer in recent games despite United’s struggles, and there is scepticism about whether Casemiro can adequately fill the void.
Casemiro has had limited game time this season, particularly under manager Ruben Amorim, but has generally shown reliability whenever called upon.
The Brazilian remains effective at winning back possession, averaging 2.8 tackles per game – better than Ugarte’s average and second only to Noussair Mazraoui in the United squad.
Casemiro’s average of 0.5 interceptions per game is lower than Ugarte’s, but he still ranks in the top 10 among United players.
Additionally, his 1.9 clearances per game are the highest among the club’s midfielders.
Casemiro has also made notable contributions offensively. He has created three big chances in the league this season – surpassed only by Fernandes, Amad Diallo and Marcus Rashford.
He also ranks fourth for key passes per game.
Although he has yet to record an assist this season, this is largely due to poor finishing from his teammates. His expected assists (xA) tally of 1.49 is bettered only by Fernandes and Diallo.
While Casemiro may no longer be at his peak, and Ugarte would have been the preferred choice for this crucial fixture, the Brazilian has proven he can be relied upon to deliver in key moments.
Stats sourced from sofascore.com.
