Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo credited Michael Carrick for his England World Cup call-up, revealing how \u201cgrateful\u201d he is for the manager\u2019s continued belief in him. <\/p>\n
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Rewind 12 months ago and Mainoo was drifting off in the wilderness. The young talent hardly saw the pitch during Ruben Amorim\u2019s reign at Old Trafford, prompting England<\/a> to move on from the player who was instrumental in the team\u2019s runners-up finish at Euro 2024. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Once Carrick took over the Red Devils, though, Mainoo\u2019s career for both club and country suddenly got back on track. The 21-year-old took his rightful place next to Casemiro in United<\/a>\u2019s midfield and looked like he hadn\u2019t missed a step. His resurgence garnered the attention of Thomas Tuchel, who selected the midfielder to represent the Three Lions in the March international break and then the 2026 World Cup<\/a>. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n When asked by talkSPORT<\/em><\/a> if he partly had Carrick to thank for his place in Tuchel\u2019s 26-player squad<\/a>, Mainoo said, \u201cDefinitely, and I told him that I was very grateful. Because if he hadn\u2019t put me on the pitch, then I wouldn\u2019t have been here so, I\u2019m always grateful to him for that.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n It\u2019s no surprise that Mainoo was in favor of Carrick becoming United\u2019s permanent manager following the 2025\u201326 season. After all, the England international started 16 of 17 possible games since Carrick took charge\u2014and the one he missed was only due to injury. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mainoo\u2019s return to form and favor at Old Trafford played a major role in the Red Devils\u2019 third-place Premier League<\/a> finish and Champions League qualification. The one who deserves the most credit, though, is Carrick. The 44-year-old excelled in his audition after he took over for the dismissed Amorim in January, and ultimately earned himself a two-year contract<\/a> until summer 2028.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe were very happy with it, obviously, we were behind the manager from the start,\u201d Mainoo told talkSPORT<\/em> of Carrick\u2019s permanent appointment.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “So many great performances under him, and I love the way he coaches and manages me personally in the team as well. I think everyone in the squad can agree with that, so when he officially got the job, we were all so happy.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n It goes without saying that as long as Mainoo avoids injury at this summer\u2019s World Cup, he will return to Carrick\u2019s XI when United kick off the 2026\u201327 season. Yet he will be missing his partner in midfield. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Casemiro bid farewell to the club after four seasons in a red shirt, leaving a hole next to Mainoo that the Red Devils have seemingly already filled. Atalanta midfielder \u00c9derson<\/a> is reportedly on his way to the red side of Manchester, where he is tipped to be Casemiro\u2019s successor. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n There could be an adjustment period for Mainoo, who played alongside Casemiro for much of his young career at United. The good news is \u00c9derson comes with a skillset very similar to the former Real Madrid star, one that compliments his new partner. The Brazilian is a physical box-to-box midfielder, with a keen ability to consistently win duels and recover possession. His presence will support Mainoo, ideally in the same way Casemiro\u2019s did. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n
<\/p>\nMainoo Reflects on Carrick\u2019s Permanent Appointment <\/h2>\n
![\"Michael](\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_1024,h_682\/c_fill,w_16,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images\/voltaxMediaLibrary\/mmsport\/si\/01ks870jet9za8fw4j9c.jpg\" "\\"Michael")
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<\/p>\nChange Is Coming for Mainoo at United<\/h2>\n
![\"Kobbie](\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_1024,h_682\/c_fill,w_16,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images\/voltaxMediaLibrary\/mmsport\/si\/01kt7ez24hba6w7er81c.jpg\" "\\"Kobbie")
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<\/p>\nREAD THE LATEST MAN UTD NEWS, ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT FROM SI FC<\/h3>\n
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