Ex-Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves is having a hard time deciding who should pick up the Player of the Season award between Marcus Rashford and Casemiro.
Rashford and Casemiro have been standout performers this term with the former up to 27 goals across all competitions, while the latter’s influence in midfield cannot be overstated.
Giving his view on United’s end-of-the-year awards, Hargreaves lauded the impact of both of the aforementioned players, although he did just about hint at his preferred winner.
“Marcus has took the headlines but I think if you look at Casemiro, the team is so different when he’s not playing, just in every phase,” Hargreaves told MUTV in an exclusive interview.
“It affects David De Gea, it affects the back four, it affects the midfield balance.
“Marcus will get the headlines and rightly so, because he’s been devastating in a way – Casemiro is the glue guy.
“It’d be a tough call, I want to give it to Marcus but I feel like Casemiro has taken the team to the next level.”
While Casemiro recently returned to domestic action from a four-game ban, Rashford is still unavailable for United due to a muscle problem, but the Englishman is expected to be back for the final stretch of the current campaign.
United could certainly do with having their top scorer back in good time as the Red Devils look to cement a top-four finish in the Premier League.
Domestic and European cup glory also remains on the cards for Erik ten Hag’s men who are faced with two crucial knockout games in the space of three days starting with Thursday’s Europa League quarter-final decider against Sevilla.
United then visit Wembley Stadium to take on Brighton & Hove Albion in the semi-final of the FA Cup, with the winner setting up a meeting against one of Manchester City or Sheffield United in the final.
