Erik ten Hag said Casemiro now appears to be "back to his best" following a strong performance in Sunday's victory for Man Utd over Aston Villa.
The Brazilian midfielder was essential in helping the Red Devils defeat an in-form Villa midfield that included Jacob Ramsey, John McGinn, Douglas Luiz, and Leander Dendoncker at Old Trafford over the weekend. He also added some attacking quality, as Casemiro hit the crossbar during the match.
Casemiro's performance comes after a challenging few months during which he missed a number of games after receiving two straight Premier League red cards.
After Sunday's game, boss Ten Hag was eager to applaud the defensive midfielder's improved play in an interview with the club's official website.
Ten Hag said, "I believe that no one is always playing brilliantly and at such a high level in every season. And perhaps in some games the rhythm is disrupted by a suspension, forcing you to restart.
"However, today's Casemiro was the one we've seen for virtually the whole season, and he brings so much in terms of organization, composure, and desire.
"Then, because he has other people following him, his leadership is very crucial for us. He serves as a model.
When Manchester United travels to the Amex Stadium on Thursday for a challenging match against high-flying Brighton and Hove Albion, Ten Hag will be hoping Casemiro maintains this excellent form.
Fernandes acknowledged on the club's official website that he has been playing with the injury rather than fully recovering despite playing, and playing quite well, against Tottenham and Aston Villa this past week. He said:
"I'm glad I've never experienced a condition that prevented me from leaving a game. I did, however, sustain a knock during the FA Cup semifinal, and that still stings a little. I can play though. I'm still available to assist the team and the management as needed.
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