Erik ten Hag defends Casemiro and Manchester United midfield

Erik ten Hag has defended Manchester United's midfield after their struggling performances against Wolves and Tottenham.

Wolves overwhelmed Casemiro, who was regularly isolated during United's fortuitous 1-0 win against Wolves, and Tottenham's midfield duo Pape Sarr and Yves Bissouma were the matchwinner and man of the match in United's 2-0 defeat at Spurs.

Although United bolstered their midfield with the £60million arrival of Mason Mount, he has performed poorly and suffered a hamstring injury that will keep him out until mid-September at the earliest.

United remain open to signing a second midfielder but the club have indicated any incoming is contingent on an outgoing. Scott McTominay generated interest from West Ham last month but the chances of his departure subsided when fellow midfielder Kobbie Mainoo sustained an ankle injury.

Read more: Ten Hag dodges Greenwood questions

"You always have to analyse clinically and that assessment is not right," Ten Hag said. "It was about the back and the front, not about the midfield. That is why we were open. Nothing to do with the midfield. I said that straight after the game."

When asked if Casemiro was fit enough, Ten Hag replied: "Oh, if you see the numbers, you see he's fully fit!

"I have no doubts [about our fitness]. They can do it. After 35 minutes against Spurs, they didn't do it anymore but after the first game we were first across the rank of fitness."