{"id":332047,"date":"2026-05-09T23:15:34","date_gmt":"2026-05-09T17:45:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=332047"},"modified":"2026-05-09T23:15:35","modified_gmt":"2026-05-09T17:45:35","slug":"michael-carrick-names-man-utd-star-who-was-isolated-during-sunderland-draw-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/05\/09\/michael-carrick-names-man-utd-star-who-was-isolated-during-sunderland-draw-football\/","title":{"rendered":"Michael Carrick names Man Utd star who was ‘isolated’ during Sunderland draw | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Michael Carrick\u2019s side laboured to a draw against Sunderland (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Michael Carrick sought to defend Joshua Zirkzee after his quiet afternoon for Manchester United of their goalless draw with Sunderland.<\/p>\n

Zirkzee was handed his first start since early December given the injury to Benjamin Sesko and the shortage of type of Bryan Mbeumo.<\/p>\n

The Dutch striker has been a bit-part player since Carrick\u2019s arrival in January, and struggled to make any real impact on the sport when finally given a probability to begin. <\/p>\n

Zirkzee had just three touches within the opposition box and one shot on goal before being withdrawn after 65 minutes as United laboured to a draw on the Stadium of Light.<\/p>\n

But Carrick was reticent to criticise the 24-year-old\u2019s peformance given the character of the sport and his lack of game time in recent months.<\/p>\n

\u2018I assumed there have been certain times when Josh linked the play very well and certain times once we probably left him a bit of bit isolated at times,\u2019 Carrick told reporters post-match.<\/p>\n

\u2018That\u2019s the way it goes, I feel he played an actual part for the team.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Sunderland\t<\/div>
Joshua Zirkzee endured a troublesome afternoon on the Stadium of Light (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018I understand it\u2019s not all the time easy for any player while you haven\u2019t played for a bit of bit to come back right into a game, so actually not only judging any individual on only one performance today anyway.\u2019<\/p>\n

On his side\u2019s performance more generally, Carrick added: \u2018It was a troublesome game. Credit to Sunderland, I feel we knew it was going to be a troublesome game coming here anyway. <\/p>\n

\u2018We needed to dig deeper times, it wasn\u2019t our greatest, but actually to take something from the sport while you\u2019re not at your best is a superb trait that we\u2019re attempting to construct as well.<\/p>\n

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Casemiro missed United\u2019s draw with Sunderland (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018There have been obviously changes and sometimes you\u2019re trying to seek out that rhythm a bit of bit, which is comprehensible, but I still quite liked it. <\/p>\n

\u2018Plenty of the things to present us the muse to then give you the chance to play higher at certain times, but to take a degree and a clean sheet for what it’s, I feel, is okay.\u2019<\/p>\n

United were dealt a blow before kick-off when each Casemiro and Benjamin Sesko were ruled out through injury.<\/p>\n

Asked for an update on the pair, Carrick said: \u2018Casemiro can be positive, it\u2019s not a significant issue, he\u2019ll be positive next week. <\/p>\n

\u2018Ben will just must see, he\u2019s been carrying a shin problem for a bit of little bit of time now, so we\u2019ve just got to administer that and see what\u2019s best for him.\u2019<\/p>\n

United are back in motion next Sunday at home to Nottingham Forest.<\/p>\n

For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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