NEWS NOW: Double blow has come at worst time for Manchester United star……
Man United will survive without the five-time Champions League winner this week but the player himself needed this upcoming run of fixtures.
The news that Casemiro appeared to be upset during Brazil’s 2026 World Cup qualifying match against Venezuela last week would have made Erik ten Hag wince.
The fact that the battle-tested warrior had sought to be substituted was perhaps the most concerning development. 16 United players have already been sidelined due to injuries at some point. In the early hours of Wednesday, when Casemiro was named in the Brazil XI, they might have thought they had avoided a 17th.
Not so. Though the 31-year-old played through the whole 90 minutes of the 2-0 defeat to Uruguay – his nation’s first loss to La Celeste since 2001 – the midfielder was clearly not at ease.
Casemiro will miss Saturday’s trip to Sheffield United as a result of United’s advice that he remain in Brazil to heal from his “small issue.” Perhaps United should play The Blades as their first opponent after the international break.
Paul Heckingbottom’s side have picked up just one point in their first eight matches and the last time they played at Bramall Lane, they were slapped 8-0. On Thursday, the Blades boss admitted the club have had a “shocking week” when it comes to injuries, all after star defender Chris Basham was hospitalised with a serious leg break suffered in the 3-1 defeat to Fulham.
Their strike in that game came via an own goal meaning the last time one of their own players scored in a match was over a month ago. A rare 8pm Saturday night kick-off under the lights away from home is fraught with danger but United should still have more than enough to win even without Casemiro, the club’s current top scorer (four goals).
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