Manchester United moved quickly and decisively to temporarily replace Christian Eriksen during the January window - but Erik ten Hag and his squad have yet to fully reap the benefits of that transfer decision.
As the mid-season transfer deadline loomed, Marcel Sabitzer was identified as a perfect stop-gap after Eriksen saw his campaign derailed by an ankle injury. However, the on-loan Bayern Munich ace has yet to be afforded the biggest luxury any United player can have right now: playing alongside Casemiro.
Having long since been a 'problem' position at Old Trafford, Casemiro's impact in the United engine room this season has, quite simply, been staggering. Not only have his individual performances been brilliant, the Brazilian powerhouse has also undeniably brought the best out of others around him.
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Previously unfancied duo Fred and Scott McTominay will testify to that, while Casemiro and Eriksen have conjured up one of the most impressive midfield pivots across the division. In doing so, they presented Bruno Fernandes with added freedom to express his talent in the No.10 role.
Without deep-lying playmaker Eriksen due to injury, it was widely expected that United would turn to loanee Sabitzer as a box-to-box option to knit Casemiro and Fernandes together. However, with Casemiro seeing red on two occasions since that mid-season arrival and Sabitzer only just recovering from his minor injury, Ten Hag and supporters have not been able to see that combination unleashed.
Considering Casemiro is still serving a four-game domestic ban, United face a further wait to try out that new trio, but the impending Europa League double-header with Sevilla could give fans the chance to see how they perform together. However, in such big games that would of course come with risk.
Ultimately, it will be the acid test for Sabitzer and his long-term United credentials. Even though there is no option or obligation for the Premier League giants to make his move permanent, it would be impossible to ignore him as a feasible alternative when it comes to summer recruitment should he shine alongside Casemiro.
Speaking about Casemiro during his January absence, former United captain Roy Keane said: "He is a huge player for them. We obviously saw at the weekend when he wasn't playing [how he was missed during the Arsenal defeat]."
Keane added: "He is a big personality, has won big trophies before. He affects games, is obviously very good defensively and pretty good on the ball, let me tell you. Big strong boy, big personality, he makes the players around him better and that is what great players do."
Fred, McTominay and Eriksen have all had an opportunity to see what Casemiro does for their game. But while on-loan Sabitzer has already pulled on the famous shirt nine times since his January move, the fact he has only totted up 90 minutes alongside Casemiro - and none from a starting position - means he cannot be properly judged as a long-term solution.
Regrettably, it might be another month or so before that scenario presents itself.
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