With Manuel Ugarte available, Christian Eriksen finding some midweek form and Kobbie Mainoo continuing to be Kobbie Mainoo, Erik ten Hag's midfield options are growing.
That Casemiro was left on their substitutes bench last weekend against Southampton was hardly much of a surprise. Now, with a visit to Crystal Palace, and the return to the site of one of last season's most haunting images, more questions will be asked of the middle of the park.
On that occasion, it was Michael Olise strolling through against Manchester United with the centre of the pitch totally unopposed.
He waltzed through to where Casemiro ought to have been stood - albeit with the Brazilian deployed at centre-back on that occasion - and stroked a pass into the net from the edge of the penalty area with almost the entire box to himself.