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The three biggest winners and three losers from Michael Carrick Manchester United appointment

Michael Carrick is the Man Utd caretaker head coach and this is what it means for the first-team squad.

The 44-year-old has been tasked with leading United for the remainder of the season and will be supported in the role by Steve Holland, Jonathan Woodgate, Jonny Evans and Travis Binnion. Carrick will take his first training session as caretaker head coach on Wednesday morning before he begins his spell with a home match against Man City this weekend.

United players will hope to make a positive impression on the new coaching staff across the coming days and there could be some obvious winners and losers from their switch to a 4-3-2-1 formation. Here is a look at how the appointment could impact those already at the club.

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Winners

Mainoo has yet to start a Premier League match this season, but that is expected to change following the appointment of Michael Carrick. The former midfielder should know exactly how to the get the best out of the 20-year-old and could give him a rejuvenated role in the heart of the United side.

The United academy graduate is much better suited to a three-man midfield and there should be more scope for him to feature following a formation change. He is no longer in direct competition with Bruno Fernandes for the same central midfield role and should expect plenty more playing time in the second-half of the season. He has to take it if he is to keep those World Cup dreams alive.

Maguire is back from injury and could be back in the United side under Carrick. He has a good relationship with the caretaker head coach and is also liked by new assistant Steve Holland. He should also get on well with former defender Jonathan Woodgate and former teammate Jonny Evans.

A switch to a back four will limit the rotation at centre-back, and it would not be a surprise if Maguire were selected as the preferred partner to Lisandro Martinez in the heart of the defence. He is out of contract at the end of the season, but if he features a lot under Carrick, a new deal might not be out of the question.

Sesko has scored three goals in two matches since United switched formation under interim head coach Darren Fletcher, and he should relish the opportunity to build upon that in the coming weeks. The 22-year-old looks better-suited to the 4-3-2-1 formation and should benefit greatly from the creativity of Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Bruno Fernandes behind him.

The Slovenia international is already full of confidence after his recent scoring exploits and is only going to strengthen his position in the first-team squad after the tactical switch.

Losers

Mount might have a good relationship with Holland, but it is hard to see him getting much game time in the change of formation. The 27-year-old does not have an obvious starting role in the new tactical set-up, given he is firmly behind Fernandes in attacking midfield and behind both Mbeumo and Amad Diallo on the right wing.

The former Chelsea star could still have a role to play on the left flank, though he is less effective when out wide and there will be a pressure for Carrick to get the best out of Cunha in attack. He has gone from a regular starter to a substitute in the space of a week.

De Ligt was one of the unsung heroes under Ruben Amorim this season but could suffer from the change of formation. He was at his best as part of a back three and there is now one fewer centre-back role with the switch to a back four.

The Dutch defender does not have the versatility of Martinez, Luke Shaw and Leny Yoro in defence, and could be in direct competition with Maguire for the same starting spot. Given he is already injured, he might never get the chance to establish himself during the caretaker reign, even when he is fit again.

Casemiro enjoyed a great start to the season under Amorim, but he has struggled in recent weeks and could be exposed by the formation change. The 33-year-old was much better in a set-up that gave him protection from three centre-backs and he could be overawed by the defensive responsibility placed upon him.

The former Real Madrid star is still expected to play a regular role in the starting line up under Carrick, but it might not be be long before he falls down the pecking order again. It is bad timing for him given he is also out of contract at the end of the season.

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