Roy Keane hails Casemiro impact on Manchester United

Roy Keane hailed the impact Casemiro has had at Manchester United, describing the Brazilian midfielder as “a great player who influences games.”

Casemiro arrived from Real Madrid in a £70m deal last summer and has wasted little time impressing English football as Erik ten Hag rebuilds United into a force.

United looked weaker in his absence when they lost 3-2 to table leaders Arsenal on Sunday after Casemiro received a one-game ban.

But he returned to help Ten Hag’s side take a big leap towards a Wembley final with a 3-0 win at Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg on Wednesday night.

And former United captain Keane, speaking before that game, praised Casemiro’s qualities.

“He is a great player for them. We obviously saw him on the weekend when he wasn’t playing. [how he was missed]’ Keane told Sky Sports.

‘He is a great personality, he has won the big trophies before. He affects games, obviously he’s very good defensively and pretty good on the ball, let me tell you.

‘A big, strong guy, with a great personality – he makes the players around him better, that’s what great players do.

We have seen it so far, you are thinking when he arrived at the club, great signing, great expectations.

“But he does the simple things well, he can see a pass, his awareness: it’s not just about getting the ball back, it’s about the next bit, it’s that bit of quality, that pass, the pace.”

“That’s what really good players do.”

Keane added that Casemiro’s reputation had been bolstered by his absence in the defeat at the Emirates Stadium, after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season.

Scott McTominay was recruited by Ten Hag to partner Christian Eriksen in United’s midfield.

Keane added: “Sometimes you realize what a good player he is when he’s not in the team.

“That’s what great players do, they affect games, they make things happen. They move him around and I think when he came to United there was a lot of talk about him being very defensive-minded, and he is, he’s very good at it, but he’s very good at going forward.

“He’s very good at passing and he has some goals, which is a big advantage.”

Casemiro has scored twice and provided five assists since trading from the Bernabéu for Old Trafford in August.

United reached the apex of the Carabao Cup final thanks to an outstanding solo goal from Marcus Rashford and goals from Wout Weghorst and Bruno Fernandes.

The second leg will be played at Old Trafford on Tuesday of next week, with United hosting Reading in the FA Cup fourth round this Saturday night.