Paul Scholes has backed Scott McTominay to act as the perfect replacement for Casemiro during the Brazilian star’s suspension period.
Casemiro was sent-off for the second time in three Premier League games in United’s goalless draw with Southampton at Old Trafford on March 12. As it was his second dismissal of the campaign, he was slapped with a four-match ban.
He sat out the first of those four games when United came from behind to beat Fulham 3-1 in the FA Cup just before the international break, meaning he will miss their upcoming Premier League fixtures against Newcastle, Brentford and Everton.
He will next be available for a domestic match when the Reds travel to the City Ground to face Nottingham Forest on April 16.
With Christian Eriksen already unavailable through injury, the club’s midfield options are limited. But, Scholes believes McTominay is the right candidate to replace Casemiro, backing him to build on the four goals he scored for Scotland during the international break.
Asked if he expects McTominay to fill in for Casemiro, Scholes said: “I do, yes. Whether Eriksen is back as well… I don’t think he is not too far away, is he? But you would have thought with Casemiro being out that Scott is the perfect choice to come in for him.
“He will have come back [from international duty] with loads of confidence and he is a really talented player. He probably got tarnished a little bit with the old McTominay-Fred midfield partnership that probably hasn’t done him any favours.
“But he hasn’t moaned about it and he has just got on with his job. He is a top class player, Scott, and I think if he just relaxes into that position where he knows he can be successful, it can be a big few weeks for him now. People have been talking about him leaving the club and I hope he doesn’t.
“I hate seeing homegrown talent leaving the club, to be honest with you, but sometimes it has to happen. As I say, it is a big few weeks for him now, and if he can come into the team and make it look as if Casemiro isn’t missed, then, hopefully, he will still be with us.”
