Casemiro saw red during Manchester United’s draw with Southampton (Picture: Getty Images)

David De Gea admitted that Casemiro may have deserved a red card against Southampton on Sunday, but also claimed the Manchester United midfielder was unlucky and referees are inconsistent.

Casemiro was sent off for the second time this season for a poor tackle on Carlos Alvarez which earned him a straight red card.

It was high and dangerous, with the Brazilian left with few complaints about the decision, but De Gea thinks his teammate was unfortunate as he was trying to play the ball and got his challenge wrong.

The Spaniard also feels that referees do not give consistent decisions across the season as, he reckons, that may not have been a red card in other games.

‘I think he was a bit unlucky, I think he tried to just touch the ball and the foot goes a bit higher, he was a bit unlucky,’ De Gea told Sky Sports.

‘He can give the red card, but I think the referees need to show more consistency during the games because sometimes they give the red card, sometimes not. But yeah, it probably could be a red.’

Casemiro will now miss four games through suspension and the goalkeeper knows that United will feel his absence as the midfielder has been so influential since arriving from Real Madrid in the summer.

‘It’s going to be tough, he’s a big player for us, missing him for four games is going to be difficult,’ he said.

‘But we still have a big squad, everyone is ready to play. The players who came from the bench today have been great, every game they’re doing so well.

‘Be together, keep working hard and for sure who plays the next games is going to be 100 per cent ready.’

MORE : Manchester United’s title hopes are over after Casemiro’s costly red card against Southampton

MORE : Casemiro to serve four-game ban for Manchester United after red card vs Southampton

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Was the Brazilian unlucky?