Erik Ten Hag hopes the return of Christian Eriksen and Casemiro will propel Manchester United to more success this season.
Eriksen will be in the squad for the first time since late January when United face Everton at Old Trafford on Saturday lunchtime, while Casemiro completes a four-match domestic ban.
Ten Hag’s first-choice midfield tandem have not played together in the Premier League for almost three months.
The United manager welcomed the prospect of having them both available again for the remainder of a packed season as he tries to secure a top-four finish.
Having already lifted the Carabao Cup, Ten Hag is also optimistic that United can add another trophy in the FA Cup and Europa League.
Erik ten Hag believes Manchester United can be spurred on by the return of two key players
Christian Eriksen returns to the fold for the Red Devils having been absent since January
‘It is obvious and clear they are two very valuable players for us,’ he said.
‘We all know how important the midfield department is. Over several games, we had to find a new balance and that is not easy at this stage of the season.
‘We are in the right spot and we are competing for the top-four of the Premier League, the quarter-final of the Europa League and semi-final of the FA Cup.
‘We have already won a cup, so we have to make it a really successful season. We have a great squad, so I am really positive to get a good final stage of the season and even more silverware.’
Eriksen’s comeback is a month ahead of schedule, but Ten Hag is still unhappy over the challenge by Reading striker Andy Carroll that left his player with ankle ligament damage.
Casemiro has returned to the team selection process after serving a suspension for red cards
‘It was not for nothing that I was so angry about that tackle,’ he added. ‘It was a really bad tackle and a really bad injury. We first feared we lost him for the whole season.’
The Dutchman also maintains that neither of the red cards shown to Casemiro against Crystal Palace and Southampton were deserved as the Brazilian serves out his latest suspension.
Asked if Casemiro has been unfairly treated by referees, Ten Hag replied: ‘I don’t know. I trust the refs. But for me, both were definitely not red cards.
‘Everyone who knows football, you know it is not a red card because you can send off players in every game in the Premier League.’
source: dailymail.co.uk
