Why Manchester United's Casemiro doesn't need to change his game despite latest red card

When Manchester United admitted defeat in their pursuit of Frenkie de Jong last summer, few would have anticipated that their fallback option would make such an astonishing impact.

But for all of the concerns that were raised about the size of the transfer fee and Casemiro having already turned 30, the Brazilian has been United's best signing in the past decade. Almost single-handedly, he has transformed United's midfield and played a crucial role in the club's resurrection under Erik ten Hag this season.

However, we have reached a juncture where we're now seeing less and less of him - and it's not because of niggly injury problems that you would usually associate with a player north of 30. Instead, it is because the Brazilian is finding himself in trouble with the officials.

READ MORE: United might seek another explanation over Anthony Taylor's refereeing

Exactly a week after returning from a three-match Premier League ban for a straight red card, the former Madrid man was sent off again on Sunday, receiving his marching orders in the first half of the goalless draw with Southampton. He was dismissed for a challenge on Saints midfielder Carlos Alcaraz, though it required a VAR intervention and on-field referee Anthony Taylor to review the incident on the pitchside monitor before a final decision was made.

As it marked his second red card of the season, the Brazil international now faces a four-game domestic ban, ruling him out of Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final clash with Fulham and the first three league fixtures after the international break. With Christian Eriksen already sidelined through injury, it is another problem Ten Hag could have done without.

By the time Casemiro has served his four-game ban, he will