Casemiro will play no part at Brighton on Sunday, opening the door for a cluster of Manchester United youngsters who could be handed a final-day chance at the Amex Stadium. Tyler Fletcher, Jim Thwaites and Shea Lacey seem most likely to benefit as United close their season against a Brighton side still chasing European qualification.
Michael Carrick said last Sunday's Old Trafford farewell had gone as well as we could have hoped, but the squad he takes to Brighton is still not fixed. He said there is at least one spare spot available and likely a couple more, leaving room for young players to be involved on the final day. Jack Fletcher is thought to have an injury, which may narrow the options further.
The selection picture matters because Carrick has made clear he will respect Brighton's position, and the position of the other European qualification hopefuls, on the final day. That leaves United balancing the immediate demands of a competitive away fixture with the longer view of giving fringe players and academy prospects a look before the season ends.
For Casemiro, the absence is more than a one-match omission. The source says his Manchester United career is over, so Sunday will not bring another appearance at Brighton and it will not be part of any farewell. That shifts attention to the younger names around him, especially Shea Lacey, who now looks well placed to be among the players who gain from the vacancies Carrick still has to fill.
The final day often brings noise, sentiment and a little room for experimentation. This one appears to bring all three for United, and the clearest conclusion is that the club is preparing to look beyond Casemiro while giving a possible platform to Lacey and the other youngsters waiting for their turn.
