One Manchester United star could help Erik ten Hag make Marcel Sabitzer transfer decision

Manchester United moved quickly and decisively to temporarily replace Christian Eriksen during the January window - but Erik ten Hag and his squad have yet to fully reap the benefits of that transfer decision.

As the mid-season transfer deadline loomed, Marcel Sabitzer was identified as a perfect stop-gap after Eriksen saw his campaign derailed by an ankle injury. However, the on-loan Bayern Munich ace has yet to be afforded the biggest luxury any United player can have right now: playing alongside Casemiro.

Having long since been a 'problem' position at Old Trafford, Casemiro's impact in the United engine room this season has, quite simply, been staggering. Not only have his individual performances been brilliant, the Brazilian powerhouse has also undeniably brought the best out of others around him.

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Previously unfancied duo Fred and Scott McTominay will testify to that, while Casemiro and Eriksen have conjured up one of the most impressive midfield pivots across the division. In doing so, they presented Bruno Fernandes with added freedom to express his talent in the No.10 role.

Without deep-lying playmaker Eriksen due to injury, it was widely expected that United would turn to loanee Sabitzer as a box-to-box option to knit Casemiro and Fernandes together. However, with Casemiro seeing red on two occasions since that mid-season arrival and Sabitzer only just recovering from his minor injury, Ten Hag and supporters have not been able to see that combination unleashed.

Considering Casemiro is still serving a four-game domestic ban, United face a further wait to try out that new trio, but the impending Europa League double-header with Sevilla could give fans the chance to