Michael Carrick could hand Kobbie Mainoo a pivotal role in his Manchester United team having identified him because the player the club must ‘construct a team around’.
Following Ruben Amorim’s dismissal last week, Carrick is ready to be handed the reins at Old Trafford as interim head coach until the tip of the 2025-26 season.
Mainoo is among the many players hoping a change within the dugout will transform his fortunes having failed to start out a single Premier League match under Amorim.
The 20-year-old broke into the first-team under Erik ten Hag, playing a key role in United’s 2024 FA Cup triumph before going onto start for England within the European Championship final against Spain later that summer.
But his exile has left his hopes of creating the Three Lions squad heading to North America for the World Cup this summer hanging by a thread.
Carrick’s arrival could change that. Mainoo was still two years off his senior debut during Carrick’s temporary stint as interim boss in late 2021 however the five-time Premier League winner holds the academy graduate in a really high regard.
Carrick sat down together with his former United teammate Rio Ferdinand in September, insisting it’s young stars like Mainoo who the club ought to be constructing a team around.
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‘To have a talent like that, as he’s shown already, you’ve got to have players like that,’ Carrick said. ‘They get it, they realize it, let’s construct around them. There’s definitely a spot for him (Mainoo) there obviously.’
Carrick also provided insight into where he might play Mainoo in the approaching weeks.
His limited appearances this season got here playing in a midfield two in Amorim’s 3-4-3 formation, taking on the same role alongside Manuel Ugarte against Brighton in what was Darren Fletcher’s final game in charge.
Carrick has previously suggested Mainoo can thrive playing further forward.
Asked by Ferdinand where he would play Mainoo, Carrick said: ‘He’s more of an attacker. I don’t see him as a holding midfielder. He’s that line above where he needs a little bit bit more freedom.
‘He can defend the upper line but I feel that bit deeper, across the centre-backs, that’s a little bit of a unique thing completely. I see him playing that little bit higher and creating. I feel he’s got a large future. I actually like him, he just needs that patience and a little bit little bit of a break again.’
Mainoo will hope to have the prospect to make up for lost time under Carrick but former United striker Michael Owen has warned he cannot expect to be gifted a spot back within the side and has ‘no more excuses’ if things don’t work out.
‘Now it’s all the way down to Mainoo,’ Owen told Metro this week. ‘It’s all right blaming people, but after all, his time is now going to come back and he’s got to take it.
‘At once, he can be one in every of the happiest people about, but now it’s going to be squarely on his toes, and there’s no hiding place or excuses.
‘He’s got to now prove that Amorim was unsuitable by not playing him as much. He’s probably going to get that chance, so we’ll see.’
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