Casemiro is cementing his hero status

PAUL INCE was right. Casemiro will not be judged on games like this, a fourth-round FA Cup tie against Reading on a soggy night in Manchester.

‘He’s a fantastic player,’ said the Reading manager, who knows a thing or two about bossing the midfield at United. ‘But it’s important you have someone who can go against the big guns and perform the way he did against us — that’s how you judge a Manchester United player.’ Still, it is to Casemiro’s credit that he turned up as usual. Real Madrid or Reading, the Brazilian always seems to be on his game. He has been imperious for United since moving from the Bernabeu in a £70million deal last summer. Erik ten Hag routinely refers to him as the cement between the stones but there is so much more finesse to Casemiro than his manager’s compliment suggests. Two excellent goals with his right foot took the game away from Reading as United eased into the fifth round. A serial winner in Spain, the 30-year-old has been at Old Trafford long enough now to feel the weight of history, but he believes United are on the way back. ‘I’m very comfortable at Manchester United and enjoying every moment like a 15-year-old kid,’ Casemiro (right) said. ‘When you arrive at a new club, you always dream of making history, especially if we see the greatness of this club.

‘But I was aware of needing some time to adapt and of the rivals like Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool having a long-term plan before ours. To win titles in the future, you have to build a solid foundation. We’re on a good path. This is the way to win titles, but we need to keep growing.’ Another Brazilian, Fred, scored United’s third goal in the space of 12 minutes to secure victory before Reading substitute Amadou Mbengue headed a consolation goal.

The Championship club were down to 10 men by then after Andy Carroll picked up a second booking for upending Casemiro.

He was unhurt, but team-mate Christian Eriksen left Old Trafford on crutches after Carroll injured his left ankle with another clumsy challenge.

Concerned boss Ten Hag said: ‘It will be a minimum of 24 hours before we know the diagnosis.’