Carrick Content To Fill In

Michael Carrick admits he is happy to fill in at the back if required after playing as centre-back against Shanghai Shenhua on the DHL tour.

The midfield star has appeared in the position in the past, during an injury crisis in 2009/2010 and also against Leeds, Wigan and Blackburn last term. It's another string to his bow but he's looking forward to training hard and nailing a regular place again in his preferred role.

"It was quite a comfortable game for me anyway as playing centre-back, I didn't have too much defending to do," he told MUTV.

"I don't mind it. From time to time, it happens, and you have to do a job but it was a bit less serious here than in the past and we got away with it.

"It changes the whole game for you really to being in midfield with everything around you. Sometimes, there's not much to do at the back and then you have to switch on so it's good to have an understanding of the game and, hopefully, it will benefit me.

"It's nice to get home. It's good to come to different countries and different places in the world to see the fans and play our football but it's nice to get home too. There is a lot of work ahead of us for two weeks and soon it'll be the start of the season and then it all goes again."