Michael Carrick is set for a trial by fire on Saturday lunchtime as he takes charge of his first game at the helm of Manchester United.
Carrick, 44, was announced as the new Red Devils interim boss earlier this week after the brutal sacking of Ruben Amorim following his press-conference outburst. And the former midfielder has made a bold call by including Kobbie Mainoo in his starting side.
Mainoo, who United fans held high hopes for, was on the fringes of the squad under Amorim. However, with Carrick in charge for the first time, he has been included in the midfield alongside Casemiro Bruno Fernandes.
Michael Carrick will take charge of his first Manchester United game on Saturday afternoon (Image: Mike Egerton/PA Wire.)
Carrick has named Senne Lemmens between the sticks, Diogo Dalot, Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw in defence. While Amad and Patrick Dorgu are on the wings with a Bryan Mbeumo leading the line.
Speaking about his first few days at the club, Carrick said: “Two different roles, sat in this chair in front of you lot is very different to the role in coaching!
"Yeah, listen, it's fantastic to be here. It's a great feeling for me to be in this position.
"I think I played different roles for this club and learned to fall in love with the club for so long, and it's a massive part of my life and has been for so long.
"So, I'm fully aware of the position I'm in, in so many different ways. As well as that, I'm eager to succeed, we've got a big job to do.
"It's an important job and it always is here, to win games and to play well and to do it in a certain way.
"So, there's one side of it that's nice to be here, but the other side of it is focus, concentration and a real drive to improve the team and improve the results.”