Ten Hag expects Mainoo to ‘learn a lot’ from Casemiro at Manchester United

Kobbie Mainoo has only recently been able to feature alongside Casemiro in the Manchester United midfield. Photograph: Carl Recine/Reuters

Erik ten Hag believes playing alongside Casemiro will help the Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo to reach his full potential. Sunday’s visit to Aston Villa is set to be the fourth consecutive time the two have started in tandem since the Brazilian returned from injury against Newport.

United have won every game when the duo have been paired together, bringing greater solidity to midfield, but it has taken time for the selection stars to align at Old Trafford. Mainoo missed the first three months of the season with an ankle injury, while Casemiro was absent on his return because of a hamstring problem, meaning they teamed up for the first time only in late January.

“I am happy he is back,” Ten Hag said of Casemiro. “For Kobbie, he can learn a lot from him. Kobbie is very coachable and Casemiro has so much experience, Kobbie will learn a lot from it and that will accelerate his development. I am happy to have him and when they play together they can benefit from each other.”

Asked if the two have a strong bond, Ten Hag said: “Absolutely, Casemiro takes that responsibility, he takes it to him, he’s talking to him. I see it in the dressing room, I see it on the pitch, on the training ground, in games. He is looking at his own game but he is looking to help and support Kobbie.”

Casemiro is one of a number of key players to recently return from the treatment room, although Lisandro Martínez suffered a knee injury against West Ham that will keep him out for two months.

“You can see we missed over a long period very important players, like Casemiro, [Lisandro] Martínez, Luke Shaw and others,” Ten Hag said. “But you see the impact from a player when he is there, like Casemiro, he gives you calmness and composure on the ball, he gives you options.”

United are desperate to return to the Champions League but sit eight points behind opponents Villa, who started the weekend in fourth, making a victory vital as they look to close the gap. If United do triumph, it would be only the second time this season they have won three Premier League matches in a row.

After a January window where Ten Hag admitted the club were unable to make signings because of financial fair play restrictions, missing out on Europe’s premier competition would be a blow to their potential dealings in the summer.

“It’s very important to play Champions League, that is clear, we don’t have to discuss this,” Ten Hag said. “What exactly is the impact [of missing out], that is what in this moment I don’t know. You have more financial power when you achieve the Champions League and that is our target, absolutely.”