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Carrick keen for Man Utd to build around 'quality' Mainoo / Photo: © AFP
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Carrick keen for Man Utd to build around 'quality' Mainoo
Manchester United boss Michael Carrick believes Kobbie Mainoo has the quality and character to become a key player for the club after a frustrating spell during Ruben Amorim's reign.
Mainoo started for the first time in the Premier League this season in the first game of Carrick's interim spell as United dominated local rivals Manchester City in a 2-0 win.
The 20-year-old shot to prominence in the 2023/24 season under Erik ten Hag, scoring as United beat City in the FA Cup final and playing a starring role in England's run to the Euro 2024 final.
However, he struggled for game time during Amorim's ill-fated 14-month spell as the Portuguese coach defied calls to play Mainoo alongside club captain Bruno Fernandes.
"This club needs young players coming through and being the foundation for what it means, not just for the players or the squad, but for the club and for the supporters," said Carrick at his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday's trip to Premier League leaders Arsenal.
"I think that is something that we need to grasp and we need to keep building on.
"Kobbie is a prime example. To come through so quickly and have the rapid rise, to play in some unbelievably big games and impact those big games at such a young age shows an awful lot of quality and in the terms of the character and to be able to handle it.
"Part of a career is a few ups and downs and sometimes it goes in different trajectories. But I think we've seen last week what Kobbie can bring."
Victory over City lifted fifth-placed United to within one point of the Premier League's top four.
The mood around Old Trafford was also transformed by the positive performance and Carrick is hoping it can be the foundation towards a positive end to the season as United aim to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in three years.
"It was a big result, big performance and a big uplift with the feeling inside the stadium," added Carrick.
"It's getting that balance between taking the encouragement and the confidence from the game and keeping level-headed and our feet on the ground.
"One game doesn't make you a great team, but it gives us a great foundation to build so there's a lot of confidence."
A. de Almeida--JDB
