Man Utd: Casemiro's MOTM highlights vs Everton show he could be a game-changer | OneFootball

Casemiro made his first Premier League start for Manchester United on Sunday.

A seeming panic buy, though an undoubtedly word-class one at that, Casemiro has hitherto been eased into United‘s midfield by Erik ten Hag upon the completion of his £70 million move from Real Madrid.

Aside from starts against Real Sociedad and Omonia in the Europa League, Casemiro had merely been drip-fed substitute appearances when United played Southampton, Leicester City, Arsenal and Manchester City in the league.

Casemiro makes his first Premier League start

And considering that a dysfunctional midfield balance has been at the heart of so much that's gone wrong for United over the last few years, you would have thought that Ten Hag would have been desperate to unleash Casemiro in order to shore things up.

However, it really does seem as though patience has been a virtue in the Brazilian's case because his first start in the Premier League during the trip to Everton truly was worth the wait.

Casemiro lined up with Christian Eriksen and Bruno Fernandes to form a midfield trident as the Red Devils won 2-1 at Goodison Park courtesy of first-half goals from Antony and Cristiano Ronaldo.

1 of 20

A nice easy start...

Dwight Yorke Teddy Sheringham

Casemiro turns provider for Ronaldo

And the latter strike proved to be the perfect showcase for what Casemiro can bring to this United side as he provided the assist by efficiently regaining possession and playing an incisive through ball.

In the space of just a few seconds, Casemiro demonstrated what he's all about as a destroyer in the depths of midfield who can also fire off the pass of a playmaker as soon as he nabs the ball.

Nevertheless, Casemiro turning provider for his former Real Madrid teammate was merely the most high-profile moment in what must undoubtedly go down as a rock-solid midfield performance.

How did Casemiro play vs Everton?

Not only did the 30-year-old land the Man of the Match award for his efforts on Merseyside, but he also earned the highest match rating of any player on the pitch at 7.5/10 according to SofaScore.

The data gurus clocked Casemiro in at four tackles, three clearances, one interception, two key passes, 87 touches, five ground duels won and an overall passing accuracy of 81%.

Yes, he might have given the ball away for Alex Iwobi's opening goal, but he recovered quickly from a wobbly start to shine as the best player on the pitch in the eyes of both the experts and data.

A rock-solid performance from Casemiro

It might not have been a Herculean performance for the ages that fans will be reminiscing about for years, but it was most certainly a statement of intent that this man could go onto become the answer to all of United's midfield woes.

So, be sure to do yourself a favour and appreciate all the potential that Casemiro offers by checking out his individual highlights from a robust, sturdy, stoic and determined day at the office down below:

Very promising indeed. He was here, there and everywhere.

A game-changing signing for Man Utd

Let's face it, the role of a holding midfield is seldom the most glamorous on a football pitch, so if you were expecting rainbow flicks and nutmegs then you've come to the wrong place.

But there's good reason to believe from Casemiro's performance at Everton that he has the ability to be an absolute game-changer for United and the project they're nurturing under Ten Hag.

Why? Well, simply because it's a player like Casemiro that United that have been lacking more than anything else with almost all of their post-2018 woes typified by a distinct lack of mettle and coherency in midfield.

Ever since Nemanja Matic faded to the point of not being able to play at the highest level week in, week out, United have badly lacked a midfield anchor around which they can build everything else.

But now, in Casemiro, the Red Devils have that foundation, that new vertebrae in their spine, which allows them to move to the next level and get back to winning trophies after so many years.

It won't be that simple, it never is, but Casemiro has got all the attributes required to turn things around for United and boy was his first Premier League start a promising sign of what's to come.