Erik ten Hag believes Marcel Sabitzer will have a big role to play at Manchester United this season beyond the three Premier League games Casemiro is suspended for.
Sabitzer made his Reds debut in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Crystal Palace, coming on in the 81st minute to help protect the team’s one-goal lead while down to ten men following Casemiro’s 70th-minute dismissal.
Sabitzer was brought in on deadline day from Bayern Munich on loan for the rest of the season after it was confirmed that Christian Eriksen would be out until at least April with an ankle injury.
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And with Casemiro suspended in the Premier League until next month, Sabitzer could get a run of games under his belt, including a first start against Leeds at Old Trafford. The Austrian started just seven Bundesliga games for Bayern this season prior to his switch but Ten Hag is confident that the former RB Leipzig man can produce the goods immediately.
Speaking to club media ahead of the clash with Leeds, Ten Hag said of Sabitzer: ''Not only [can he have an impact] in the next three games coming up, we signed him and we said from the start of the season, we only want to bring in outstanding players, he is one of them.
“He has a good profile and he already has a good record in good clubs. He has already performed at the highest level, we are sure with his character, also he is a winner, and he can contribute to success. I think in the 20 minutes he played, we have already seen a little bit, but there is more to come, I am sure he will do [that]."
Sabitzer, who played in all six of Bayern’s Champions League group stage games, could play a significant role in United’s Europa League clashes with Barcelona alongside Casemiro, whose suspension does not apply to European competition.
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