Manchester United are already two games away from nightmare Kobbie Mainoo scenario

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. Olise went on to get another, this time from distance, but again from a position that a functioning midfield would have shut down.

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The key word there is 'functioning' because, like much of last season, at Selhurst Park four months ago United's midfield was non-existent. Even the presence of Mainoo buzzing around was not enough to anchor a team that lacked structural integrity - right from their opening match.

It's been far from watertight so far in 2024/2025, either, but at least Ten Hag has available players. Mason Mount will at some point be added back into the mix, as well.

In the coming weeks, this may become more important than first considered. Indeed, with 12 yellow cards in the first four games, United already have some suspension worries to think about.

For context, the only teams with more are Arsenal (13)