Danny Murphy leaps to the defence of Casemiro as he insists the Man United midfielder wouldn’t look ‘as isolated’  if he had a better defensive set-up around him

Danny Murphy has leaped to the defence of Casemiro, insisting the Manchester United midfielder needs more defensive help from his team-mates. 

Erik ten Hag’s side have started the season sluggishly and suffered their first defeat against Tottenham on Saturday. 

United’s midfield was overrun with ease and Casemiro came under huge scrucinty for his performance against the north London side and Wolves on the opening day of the season. 

Speaking on talkSPORT, former Liverpool midfielder Murphy said: ‘I don’t think he is a “Steady Eddie”, I think he is a hell of a lot better than that.

‘It’s all about the dynamic of a team and the way someone fits in and the way people perceive you to be.

Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy has leaped to defence of the Brazilian international

‘He’s a holding midfielder, if he was playing in a midfield that had a better defensive, tactical set-up, he wouldn’t look as isolated as he has done in the first two games.

‘He’s a wonderful player, you don’t win the [number of] Champions Leagues [five] he’s won playing in Madrid for the years he had, if you’re a ‘Steady Eddie’ – you don’t stay in that team.

‘He’s better than a “Steady Eddie” and he’s very good on the ball, he can see a pass and he can score a goal.’

Casemiro had a successful first season with United last term and scored as the Red Devils beat Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final in February. 

But he has started this season poorly and been dribbled past six times compared to  Manchester’s City’s Rodri (1) and the revitalised Yves Bissouma (2) of Tottenham. 

United will return to action on Saturday when they host Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford.