The next Michael Carrick now finally looks finished at Man Utd

Michael Carrick's Manchester United looks a lot different to the side we saw under Ruben Amorim just over a month ago. The Red Devils have been revolutionised by their interim manager, with the ex-United midfielder yet to lose a game during his second spell.

Indeed, United have won more points than any other Premier League side in 2026, with 15 to their name so far.

13 of those have been won with Carrick at the helm, showing just how much progress has been made since the former Middlesbrough manager took over at his former club.

Some players have been revived under Carrick’s management, too.

The United stars who have been revived by Carrick

The biggest beneficiary of Carrick’s appointment is certainly Kobbie Mainoo. After being completely ignored by Amoirm, he has played 90 minutes in all five of the games led by the ex-United number 16.

What an impact the 20-year-old has had in midfield for United. Despite barely playing before mid-January, Mainoo has been consistently superb, running the show with his silky technical ability and showing excellent hard work off the ball.

England manager Thomas Tuchel confirmed he is “back in the frame” for a Three Lions call-up.

Mainoo isn’t the only United player who has been revitalised under Carrick. Right-back Diogo Dalot saw his stocks fall under Amorim, after being misused by his countryman, who played him as a high and wide wing-back.

Carrick, however, has profiled him perfectly. The Portugal international is once again operating as a right-back and has looked impressive.

He’s been important in possession with his progressive passing from deeper zones, often forming part of a back three with the ball, and has made some vital contributions defensively. Dalot has certainly been far better under Carrick.

However, it has not been the case for all the United squad.

The next Carrick looks finished at Man Utd

One of the biggest mistakes United have made since Sir Alex Ferguson retired over a decade ago, is spending lots of money on players who have not lived up to the price tag. The likes of Antony and Andre Onana are two examples.

Another player from the Erik ten Hag era who would fit into this bracket is Mason Mount. The former Chelsea star cost £60m back in 2023, although things have not worked out for him at Old Trafford like he may have hoped.

There is no doubting the ability of Mount. He has shown that at times throughout the course of his Red Devils career. Yet, injuries have ravaged his time in Manchester, missing 55 games so far due to seven different injury issues.

He has played just 66 games for the club in the three-year spell he’s had at Old Trafford, scoring seven goals and assisting a further two.

When he’s been available, the England international has impressed, but the fact that he’s missed almost as many games as he’s played is a huge issue.

What is frustrating for United is that they are missing out on a player of great quality when Mount is sidelined. H

e’s a true creative force, and averages 1.6 key passes per game across his Premier League career.

Had things worked out differently, United could have had their second coming of Carrick in the form of the Cobham graduate. Like their current interim manager, Mount is a technically superb English midfielder, though he does operate in a role higher up the pitch.

He is a player who can really control a game of football, just as Carrick was able to do in his heyday, having followed the new boss in moving from London to Manchester with his peak years still very much ahead of him.

Yet, it feels like United fans have not seen that in action enough because of the injuries he’s struggled with.

The £60m fee they spent on Mount under Ten Hag’s management certainly doesn’t seem like the best allocation of funds.

He could have been the club’s new Carrick, but his future at Old Trafford may well be up in the air.

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