Manchester United have been handed a major boost as Casemiro was seen taking part in training with Brazil on Monday, just days after picking up an injury on national team duty.

The midfield lynchpin was captaining his country when he was brought down with a blow to his ankle, and asked to brought off by interim manager Fernando Diniz. 

After the final whistle was blown on the 1-1 draw in Cuiaba, Diniz confimed that it had been Casemiro’s call to be substituted, and at the time, a statement on Man United‘s website deemed the severity of the problem as ‘unclear’. 

But the 31-year-old looked in high spirits as he took part in Monday’s session with team-mates including Neymar Jnr and Vinicius Jnr. 

Casemiro beamed in the sunshine as he went through training exercises with the pack, which could see his domestic manager Erik ten Hag breathing a sigh of relief. 

The midfielder had asked to be substituted during Brazil’s 1-1 draw with Venezuela last week

The 30-year-old (centre left) is a valuable piece in club coach Erik ten Hag’s midfield puzzle

Man United has been stymied by an almighty injury crisis since the start of the season that has seen a number of senior figures ruled out for their manager’s selection. 

The club are thought to have launched an investigation into why so many first-team players have been felled by different injuries, with no fewer than 16 variously unavailable to Ten Hag since the start of the season. 

Injury issues have in part played a role in the club’s shaky start to their 2023-24 campaign, which sees them sit 10th after losing five of their last eight games across all competitions. 

United have had an abysmal start to their tenure in Europe this term too, losing their first two matches against Bayern Munich and Galatasaray, with the team currently rock bottom of Group A. 

But Ten Hag may have breathed a sigh of relief after spotting Casemiro with his team-mates including Neymar Jnr (left) and Vinicius Jnr (right)

United’s dire start to the season has seen them lose three of their last five Premier League ties

Among the long-term absentees are regular starters Luke Shaw, Lisandro Martinez, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, with Ten Hag’s backline in particular impacted by the crisis. 

New recruits Mason Mount and Rasmus Hojlund also struggled with injuries at the beginning of their time at Old Trafford, and are in the process of working their way back to full fitness and form. 

But should Casemiro prove in shape to take part in Brazil’s second international break tie against Uruguay, Ten Hag will expect the player to prove the difference for the side in upcoming matches at home and abroad. 

After the break, United will face Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on Saturday, before welcoming Copenhagen to Manchester three days later.