Three Man United position changes Erik ten Hag could make this season, Roy Keane agrees with one

There are three potential position changes that Erik ten Hag could make at Manchester United this season, and Roy Keane agrees with one of them.

The Reds have had a mixed start to the season, securing two Premier League wins in their first five games.

Erik ten Hag’s side did secure an impressive 7-0 win in the Carabao Cup against Barnsley but there is still much to improve.

Three potential position changes

Ten Hag has shown previously that he is willing to adjust a player’s position at Old Trafford. Wout Weghorst was used as a no.10 while Luke Shaw played at centre-back during periods.

There are a few solutions that could be made through small adjustments to players’ positions.

One that Ten Hag has already tested out is Lisandro Martínez playing at left-back rather than centre-back. The 26-year-old played on the flank for United in the Community Shield and has since been used there for Argentina.

Of course, he will not play as a conventional fullback. Still, Martínez could offer solutions there, considering the fitness concerns around Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia, as well as the fact that Matthijs de Ligt and Leny Yoro, once fit, will be pushing for minutes centrally.

Another slight adjustment could be to help Casemiro, who struggled against Liverpool and has been underwhelming since his first season at the club.

Instead of being the deepest midfielder in the team, Ten Hag could use Casemiro in the slightly more advanced midfield role. This could limit in role in deeper build-up while giving him the licence to get forward without being punished.

Finally, the United boss could look to use Rasmus Højlund slightly differently when the Dane returns to the side.

While this does depend on Joshua Zirkzee adapting to the team quickly, but we could see Højlund operate slightly to the right of the Dutch forward.

This seems like the best way to get the two playing together while sticking to the same shape. Højlund also has shown to excel when running the flanks and could be tested as an inside forward while Zirkzee and Bruno Fernandes look to feed him and another wide forward in behind.

Højlund has also been criticised for his ‘wrestling’ with defenders before and this could help him find the separation he needs to help his attacking game.

Roy Keane agrees with Casemiro switch

While Roy Keane isn’t one for excuses, he believes that Casemiro can turn things around at Old Trafford and suggested that playing him further forward could be a good idea.

The former United captain believes that the Brazilian has ‘an eye for a pass’ and could work in a slightly higher role.

“I wouldn’t be writing him off yet,” Keane said of Casemiro on Stick to Football. “His role in the team, if he gets back in and a couple of games under his belt, might be a bit higher up the pitch.

“The first thing we always say is, ‘he can’t get around the pitch’. But what we’ve seen going forward, he does have an eye for a pass. Set-pieces, how many times does he get his head on it?”

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