Michael Carrick has opened up about his role in the development of Kobbie Mainoo so far after the Manchester United and England midfielder’s resurgence under him.
Kobbie Mainoo has seen his place in the Manchester United starting XI restored after Michael Carrick made his return to the Premier League club in January.
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The 20-year-old England ace has started all five of Carrick’s matches in charge of the Red Devils as interim head coach and played the full 90 minutes on each occasion.
Mainoo has picked up two assists under Carrick’s reign and the Man Utd talent has been growing in confidence in the heart of the Red Devils midfield in recent weeks.
The Three Lions international was struggling for regular United first-team minutes in the 2025-26 season after he was dropped from the starting XI under Ruben Amorim.
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Michael Carrick on the early part of England midfielder Kobbie Mainoo’s development at Man Utd
Ruben Amorim shifted Bruno Fernandes into a deeper midfield role this season and the resulting impact was Kobbie Mainoo losing out on a place in the starting XI.
Mainoo had not started a single Premier League match in the current campaign under Amorim before the 41-year-old ex-Manchester United manager was sacked.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Carrick admitted that it is “quite incredible” what United academy product Mainoo has already achieved in his spell at Old Trafford so far.
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“I’ve known Kobbie a long time,” he said.
“I started working with him when I think he was 13 or 14, when I was starting to do my coaching badges – a good few years ago. Just little bits. And then, obviously, when I was here the first time, he was in and around a little bit.
“So, I think knowing him and having experience with him and seeing him perform at such a level on such big occasions… I said earlier about coaches being able to cope with being here and at the level to deal with it. What Kobbie’s done at such a young age is quite incredible really.”
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Mainoo enjoyed his United first-team breakout season under Erik ten Hag and was a linchpin midfield influence for the 56-year-old former Ajax and Red Devils manager.
Carrick pointed out that people often forget Mainoo’s age after the Man Utd and England midfielder’s emergence at the Premier League club.
“We forget how young he still is,” he added.
“I was just a big fan of watching him play and knowing what he was capable of. So, it wasn’t really a big decision to play him.
“And, to be fair, it’s not easy when you haven’t played to find your rhythm and find your form.”
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Carrick explained that he has only been providing a “couple of little pointers” to Mainoo in helping the United talent to further improve himself as a player.
“There are things he can get better at, things he can improve on, but we haven’t really got started on any of that because we’re just letting him go and find his flow and find his rhythm of playing football again,” he continued.
“I’ve been really conscious of not giving him an awful lot – a couple of little pointers, a bit of positional things and some little bits here and there – but trust in what he is. He’s a fantastic footballer and he’s got a huge talent.”
Mainoo has made 91 first-team appearances for the Red Devils and the England midfielder has netted seven times and registered five assists so far for his side.
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