Manchester United star had a ‘spring in his step’ after changing positions during win v Brighton, says pundit

The 2023/24 season has been a poor one for Manchester United, and an extremely difficult one to navigate over the past few weeks.

This has been due to injuries to everyfirst team centre-back, Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane, Victor Lindelof, Jonny Evans and Willy Kambwala, plus Luke Shaw.

Centre-midfielder Casemiro has had to fill in, and it has been tricky. There has been a disproportionate amount of criticism heading his way, which Ian Wright recently labelled ‘disrespectful’.

Reinforcements are returning at centre-back, with Martinez starting alongside Casemiro against Brighton, before Varane and Evans both came on as substitutes.

Casemiro back into midfield

The centre-backs returning will allow Casemiro to finally step back into midfield, and he was able to push further up the pitch in the second half against Brighton.

Speaking to MUTV’s Matchday Review, former academy player Danny Webber said he could clearly see Casemiro enjoyed getting back into his regular position.

Webber explained: “He seemed to get a spring in his step, Casemiro, when he went back into midfield.

“I know that feeling, when you are playing out of position doing a job, and then you get put back where you’re comfortable.

“He picked up the ball and created the assist for Diogo Dalot, from there on in, I thought we looked very comfortable.”

Webber added he was very pleased with the way Manchester United played, as the team build towards next week’s FA Cup final.

He said: “It was a very good performance and the right kind of performance you want going into the game next week.”

Manchester United’s midfield options for Wembley

Casemiro has proven his experience as a big game player, for the club, and most famously for former side Real Madrid.

Does he still have one more huge performance left in him?

Manchester United’s most likely midfield trio against City in the cup final will be Casemiro, Kobbie Mainoo, and Bruno Fernandes.

Sofyan Amrabat had been building momentum, but wasdisappointing against Brighton, and could have to settle for a place on the bench.

Christian Eriksen and Scott McTominay both featured against Brighton, but are unlikely to be in United’s starting XI at Wembley.

Mason Mount, injured again, did not even make the United bench and while his injury status for next week remains unclear, even if he was fit, he has not done enough to justify a starting role.