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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Samuel Luckhurst

Erik ten Hag gives verdict on Casemiro's first Manchester United Premier League start

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag expects Casemiro to improve now he has made his full Premier League debut.

Casemiro started at Everton almost seven weeks to the day since he was paraded at Old Trafford but was dispossessed for Alex Iwobi's fifth-minute goal.

The Brazilian recovered to play a piercing pass for Cristiano Ronaldo to strike the eventual winning goal.

Also read: United player ratings vs Everton

Casemiro, 30, is set to keep his place in the league against Newcastle on Sunday as Scott McTominay is suspended after receiving a fifth yellow card.

"Yeah, difficult, I don't know," Ten Hag began when asked about Casemiro's performance. "The day he came, I repeat myself - I have told this story several times - so I don't know if that's necessary.

"But you see I think he settled in and you see which impact he can have and when he gets games he will be better and better."

Marcus Rashford had a goal contentiously chalked off by the Video Assistant Referee for handball when had he have assisted a teammate the goal would have stood.

United were victims of the interpretation of the handball rule in February when Duncan Watmore assisted Matt Crooks to equalise. The goal stood even though Watmore had clearly handled the ball.

Rashford was penalised hours after West Ham striker Michail Antonio appeared to nudge the ball into his path using his arm to score in their 3-1 win over Fulham.

"Yeah, luckily, it didn't affect the result finally," Ten Hag said. "So [if] it did I have to say something different but from my perspective, it is a goal."

United won at Goodison Park with a capacity crowd for the first time since New Year's Day in 2018 and the manner of their triumph was all the more impressive after the hosts led.

Everton had the best defensive record in the top flight going into the fixture yet United turned the game around before half-time.

"You see this team is, attitude-wise, mentally-wise, they are developing," Ten Hag added. "So I am happy with the process so we have to keep the process going."

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