Erik ten Hag has an easy decision to make with Casemiro for Manchester United vs Southampton

Casemiro: starter or sub?

Erik ten Hag did the right thing in starting Lisandro Martinez in the opening game of the season rather than easing him into the team, despite not figuring in the pre-season tour.

Casemiro has had the benefit of arriving in Manchester on Monday and the best part of a week's worth of training. Scott McTominay was a successful stop-gap stopper against Liverpool but more is needed from United's midfielders at Southampton.

Ten Hag may prefer to preserve the status quo but that has already backfired with other calls this season. There is merit in making changes, particularly in midfield.

Also read: United confident of signing Antony

Who replaces Martial?

It has been a long time since Anthony Martial dominated a pair of centre halves as authoritatively as he did Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez. Martial was on his toes and Van Dijk on his heels when he latched onto the loose ball to play Marcus Rashford through for the winning goal against Liverpool when too often in the past it has been the Frenchman caught unawares.

Martial was an upgrade on Anthony Elanga, whose 45 minutes were a success despite his failure to slot in at 0-0. Martial would have started the season if he was available and he has suffered another setback. Rashford started through the middle on Monday night and Martial's injury could reprieve Elanga.

4-2-3-1 again?

Southampton coach Ralph Hasenhuttl abandoned the back three set-up after two games and six goals conceded. Against Leicester, Southampton won in a 4-2-3-1 formation and Hasenhuttl has settled on a promising midfield partnership of James Ward-Prowse and former City academy stalwart Romeo Lavia.

Ten Hag has not wavered with United's formation despite a double debacle against