David de Gea makes Casemiro joke after stunning goal for Manchester United vs Bournemouth

David de Gea has identified Casemiro as the surprise solution to Manchester United's goalscoring problems - joking that the Brazilian should be played as a striker.

Casemiro scored the only goal of the game after nine minutes as United beat Bournemouth 1-0 at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday. The 31-year-old produced a brilliantly improvised overhead kick from close range after Cherries defender Marcos Senesi got a touch on Christian Eriksen's lofted ball.

United's usual go-to man, Marcus Rashford, was absent through illness on the south coast. The Reds talisman has 29 goals this season, almost three times more than anyone else at the club.

RATINGS: Casemiro and Varane good in Bournemouth win

Anthony Martial was relatively ineffective for the 57 minutes he was on the pitch, with his replacement Wout Weghorst yet to find the net in the Premier League. And De Gea has suggested a left-field option to lead the line.

"We knew before we came here that it means a lot to win today," De Gea said after full-time. "We performed very well and scored a great goal. We suffered at the end but away from home, it's a massive three points.

"For sure the first 25 minutes was key, it was a perfect start and then we could be calm and play our football. It's a big win.

"Maybe we have to put Casemiro as a striker. What a finish!"

United are not expected to be without Rashford for long, with the 25-year-old having recovered from the leg injury that kept him out of last week's win over Wolves before being taken ill on Friday. He did not travel with the squad to the Vitality Stadium but could be available for Thursday's game against Chelsea.

A point or more at Old Trafford would secure Champions League football for next season, following