Manchester United will be without Casemiro against Newcastle United when the Premier League returns this weekend - but the Brazil international remains in fine form despite a continuing domestic suspension.
The midfielder missed United's FA Cup quarter-final win over Fulham and is again absent for the trip to St James' Park, as well as an Old Trafford double-header against Brentford and Everton this month after seeing red versus Southampton.
The 31-year-old has been in action over the international break, representing his country. Caretaker national team coach Ramon Menezes, who replaced the departed Tite following the nation's World Cup exit in the quarter-finals, entrusted the 31-year-old with the captain's armband for a friendly in Tangier, the home of the 2022 edition's surprise package, Morocco. Casemiro did not disappoint.
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Flanked by Chelsea loanee Andrey Santos and West Ham United's Lucas Paqueta in the middle, Casemiro was one of only three players with more than 20 caps for the country. Brazil needed all that experience as they fell behind when Southampton winger Sofiane Boufal opened the scoring just before the half-hour mark.
Casemiro stepped up in the second half, showing the goalscoring touch which has already seen him net five goals for United this season by sweeping the ball under Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou from the edge of the area. An experimental Brazil side would eventually concede again late on to lose 2-1.
For Casemiro, despite the defeat, there was the silver lining of a show of faith from Menezes as he was handed 90 minutes in the middle of the park. Erik ten Hag will not have such a luxury on Sunday, much to the relief of Newcastle.
In the face of a fast start of the North East side at Wembley in the Carabao Cup final, Casemiro rose highest to head home a Luke Shaw set-piece to wrestle back control of the game. Six minutes later, the defensive midfielder won back possession in the build-up as Marcus Rashford doubled United's advantage before half-time.
Casemiro left Wembley with the richly-deserved man of the match award alongside his winners' medal. This weekend, he can only hope his teammates fulfil their side of the bargain and ensure United's ambitions of qualifying for next season's Champions League remain on track.
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