Erik ten Hag faces double Manchester United decision as midfield problem emerges

Manchester United have two players on the verge of suspension, including summer signing Casemiro, with a crucial match against Premier League leaders Arsenal just around the corner.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag must make a decision on Casemiro, who faces missing Sunday’s game against Arsenal if he receives a yellow card in midweek.

United are the only team to have defeated Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal in the league this season, triumphing 3-1 at Old Trafford in September. They are nine points behind the league leaders ahead of the trip to the Emirates Stadium, but they must first get through a game against Crystal Palace.

If Casemiro receives his fifth yellow card of the season at Selhurst Park on Wednesday, he will be suspended for one game. However, the situation is complicated by the fact that Fred, who could replace his compatriot if he is rested, is also one yellow card away from suspension.

Casemiro, who joined from Real Madrid in a £60 million summer transfer, has developed into an important member of Ten Hag’s squad after being eased into first-team action. However, the tough-tackling midfielder hasn’t completely avoided trouble, picking up two yellow cards in United games prior to the World Cup and two since, including going into the book as his team won the Manchester Derby on Saturday.

Fred hasn’t always been a regular in the starting lineup, but he made his first league start since October against Manchester City. Both midfielders received yellow cards late in the game, Fred in the 88th minute and Casemiro in the 89th.

United could rest both players against Palace, allowing Scott McTominay to start and using Bruno Fernandes in a deeper role than he did on Saturday. The midweek game is the final one in which a Manchester United player would be banned for a fifth booking of the season; after the halfway point of the season, yellow card suspensions apply only to players with 10 bookings.

A win over Crystal Palace would propel United to second place, at least for the time being. Manchester City, however, could overtake them on Thursday when they host Tottenham at the Etihad Stadium.

“We have improved, that is obvious,” United manager Ten Hag said after his team came from behind to win the derby thanks to goals from Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford. “There is still a long way to go but we have a lot of aspects in our game we have to improve but we are progressing.

“The fans may dream but we are not, we have to keep our feet on the ground and face that our game has a lot to improve. We cannot be losing so much control after halftime.