Carrick must release ‘future £100m academy graduate’ from Man Utd

The dismissal of Ruben Amorim has Manchester United last week left INEOS with the task of identifying a replacement to take the reins until the end of the season or beyond.

Darren Fletcher has led the team in each of the last two matches, but it appears the hierarchy are eyeing an option to replace the Scot until the end of the 2025/26 season.

Ole Gunnar Solskjær emerged as favorite at one point, after the Norwegian made clear his desire to return to Old Trafford, following his three-year stint between 2018 and 2021.

However, after recent interviews, it seems that his former player Michael Carrick could be ready to lead the team until the summer, when the search for a permanent boss can be conducted.

If the 44-year-old is the man chosen to lead the Red Devils over the coming months, he may have the chance to unleash a star who has made a breakthrough into the senior ranks in recent weeks.

The stats behind Shea Lacey’s breakthrough into Man Utd’s first team

The United academy has been responsible for developing many elite-level talents over recent years, with striker Shea Lacey probably next on the treadmill.

Aged just 18, he earned his first senior appearance in the defeat against Aston Villa, with Fletcher using him in each of his two temporary matches at the helm.

He played a total of 33 minutes in each of the two outings, including just seven minutes in the 2-2 draw against Burnley at Turf Moor last week.

The teenager came dangerously close to his first senior goal during the competition, having cut inside onto his favored left foot, but was narrowly denied by the crossbar.

As a result, Lacey was rewarded with a 27-minute appearance off the bench against Brighton yesterday, with the teenager enduring a topsy-turvy performance at Old Trafford.

He managed to complete 100% of the passes he attempted, while attempting two dribbles and finding a teammate with one of the crosses he put into the penalty area.

However, things quickly turned sour for the teenager, as he received two yellow cards in the space of a few minutes, the second being for throwing the ball after an unfavorable decision.

As a result, he received his marching orders and was sent off with just minutes remaining, his desire to succeed for the club obviously getting the better of him on this occasion.

The United star who is more talented than Lacey

Despite his first senior sending off this weekend, the future certainly remains bright for Lacey at United, with the teenager having the chance to land a starting role in the years to come.

Fletcher’s temporary appointment may not have yielded the results fans dreamed of, but it certainly gave the youngsters an opportunity to showcase their talents.

His seven-minute appearance was proof of the threat he poses in the final third, something which will only develop further as he adapts to the demands of the Premier League.

Lacey already has creativity and pace in abundance, something the Red Devils’ upper ranks have lacked for many months under Amorim.

However, he is just one of several departures currently planned at Old Trafford, with players like Kobbie Mainoo having the chance to take their careers to the next level when Carrick arrives.

The 20-year-old has already been an influential member of the first team for almost three seasons, having made his breakthrough in the latter stages of the 2023/24 campaign.

Such a return to Old Trafford saw him included in England’s squad for Euro 2024, showcasing the high-level talent the Red Devils had on their hands.

However, Amorim’s arrival massively stagnated his progress with his boyhood club, with the 40-year-old often leaving the youngster on the bench behind Manuel Ugarte and Casemiro.

Following the manager’s dismissal, the midfielder had failed to start a single Premier League match this campaign, subsequently making just 228 minutes of Premier League appearances.

Such a move baffled many, even leading his brother to wear a ‘Free Kobbie Mainoo’ t-shirt during one of Amorim’s final matches in charge at Old Trafford.

However, Carrick’s potential arrival could reignite his career in Manchester, with the 44-year-old’s experience as a midfielder at the Theater of Dreams helping to facilitate his progression.

The former player turned manager has managed to win five Premier League titles in Manchester, which could help Mainoo replicate his success in the first team.

The academy graduate, nicknamed “a future”£100 million footballer” by United writer and journalist Alex Turk, still has plenty of time to reach the next level of his career and realize his potential.

His stats from previous seasons showcase the talent he possesses, something Amorim often overlooked while in charge of the Red Devils.

However, Carrick could certainly bring the player back to those levels if he takes the reins, with the temporary boss expected to trust the youngster to succeed.

The midfielder certainly doesn’t have the quality of Mainoo at present, with the youngster certainly having the opportunity to become a world-class star in the years to come, given his previous spell in the first team.

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