Kobbie Mainoo could be elevated to the next level in his Manchester United playing career under soon-to-be Red Devils caretaker head coach Michael Carrick.
Michael Carrick has beaten former Red Devils manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the race to become the next Manchester United interim boss until the end of the season.
Michael Carrick is the new favourite for the Man Utd interim job, are you happy with this?
Manchester United Coach Michael Carrick celebrates at the end of the Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford on December 2, 2021
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According to BBC Sport, the 44-year-old former Middlesbrough boss agreed a deal with the Red Devils on Monday and will now make his return to Old Trafford.
Carrick will replace ex-Man Utd teammate Darren Fletcher, who has been serving as interim Red Devils head coach, in the dugout ahead of Saturday’s Manchester derby.
Kobbie Mainoo recently made his return to United first-team action under interim manager Darren Fletcher after a calf injury had sidelined him for four matches.
READ MORE: Michael Carrick has something special that will turn head of every single Man Utd player, claims Ben Foster
Kobbie Mainoo looks on during the FA Cup third-round match between Manchester United and Brighton and Hove Albion in 2026 in Manchester, England.
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What Michael Carrick said about Man Utd and England midfielder Kobbie Mainoo spoke volumes
Kobbie Mainoo’s future was plunged into doubt in the 2025-26 season after the 20-year-old midfield talent fell down the pecking order under Ruben Amorim.
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The Manchester United midfielder has not started a single Premier League match in the current campaign, with all 12 of his appearances coming from the bench.
Mainoo’s return from injury came with his second-half cameo against Burnley in the 2-2 draw at Turf Moor before he started in United’s FA Cup defeat to Brighton.
Speaking to former Man Utd teammate Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick expertly broke down the attacking qualities that Mainoo has in his arsenal as a midfielder.
What did you think of Kobbie Mainoo’s performance vs Brighton?
Did he do enough to earn a starting place vs City next weekend?
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“I think he’s more of an attacker,” he said on Rio Ferdinand Presents in 2025.
“I don’t see him as a holding midfielder. I think he’s probably that line above with that little bit more freedom.
“I think there’s [sic] different ways of defending, you can defend on the high line, but defending close to your centre-backs is different.
“I see him playing a bit higher with that freedom, creating and taking the ball. I think he has a massive future, I really like him, I think he needs a bit of patience and a break again, [which] I’m sure he’ll get.”
READ MORE: What Ben Foster noticed about Kobbie Mainoo after Man Utd display under Darren Fletcher speaks volumes, ‘he looked…’
Man Utd legend Michael Carrick can unlock the attacking side of Kobbie Mainoo in his tactical set-up
Bruno Fernandes’ position change to the two-man midfield pivot under Ruben Amorim ultimately cost Mainoo his position in the starting XI this season.
Gone are both Amorim and the former United manager’s tactical system and all eyes are now on Carrick over how he will handle the out-of-favour Mainoo going forward.
Carrick’s tactics during his managerial spell at Middlesbrough saw him predominantly rely on a 4-2-3-1 formation before he was axed from the Championship club in 2025.
How would you describe Michael Carrick’s playing career in three words?
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Carrick playing career graphic
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The United legend could look to deploy Mainoo further up the pitch in the three-man line behind the striker and rely on an alternative two-man pivot in his set-up.
An incredible – and underrated – midfielder in his prime at Old Trafford, Carrick will no doubt leave United fans eager to see how he sets up his midfield for the Red Devils.
Unlike the reign of former United manager Amorim, Mainoo won’t simply be ruled out of the running for a place in the Red Devils starting XI under Carrick.
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