If Erik ten Hag has a whiteboard in his office on which he tries to ink in Manchester United teams weeks in advance, there is one name already in place for the trip to the Nou Camp next Thursday.
United's Europa League play-off with Barcelona is a huge fixture and Ten Hag will clearly pick his strongest team, but circumstances make Casemiro a certain starter anyway. The circumstances beyond being United's best midfielder, anyway.
The red card picked up by the Brazilian against Crystal Palace last Saturday has ruled him out of three successive Premier League games, but he is available to face the La Liga leaders, so as a fit and fresh midfielder, he will go straight into the side.
