Tim Howard pinpoints key Manchester United midfield issue after Tottenham defeat

Tim Howard believes Erik ten Hag has a problem on his hands in finding the correct partner for Casemiro.

Manchester United slipped to their first defeat of the season on Saturday as they were soundly beaten 2-0 by Tottenham Hotspur in London. The loss comes off the back of an underwhelming opening-day win over Wolves, in which they were fortunate to come away with three points.

One of the biggest problems in both matches was how United lost the midfield battle. Ten Hag wants new signing Mason Mount to press high up the pitch but in doing so Casemiro is left exposed and was overwhelmed in both matches.

Former United goalkeeper Howard believes it's an issue that needs urgent attention. "No, it's not the personnel. I agree, I like all three of them. I like them coming into the season," he said on NBC.

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"When we look last season it was Casemiro plus Fred or plus McTominay. He's trying to get away with that to have him play on his own, I don't know if that's quite working out. We talk about balance, there may be a re-structure but then who goes there? I don't think Bruno's better deep-lying, Mason Mount certainly isn't but then Casemiro might need a partner.

"Sometimes it was Eriksen and they played really well together but that has to shuffle things ahead of the ball as well. So, he certainly has a problem on his hands, a dilemma."

Howard's fellow pundit, former Premier League defender Robbie Mustoe, then detailed what's been going wrong so far. He said: "In modern-day football right now we're seeing a lot of two No.8s, attacking players, really attacking-minded. Manchester City are doing it, Arsenal are doing it now particularly with Havertz and Odegaard, with one holding