Carrick Advises Young Reds To Be Patient

Michael Carrick is impressed by the impact that Manchester United’s young players have made and he believes the future is bright for all of them, although the vice-captain has also advised that they must remain patient in these early stages of their careers.

Louis van Gaal has given first-team debuts to eight prospects from the youth ranks so far this season, with a number of senior players missing through injury. All of them have coped admirably with the step up and the likes of Guillermo Varela, Marcus Rashford, Tim Fosu-Mensah and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson have become regulars in the manager’s matchday squads when fit and available for selection.

Carrick gave an exclusive interview to Sunday’s edition of United Review, the matchday programme at Old Trafford, and the 34-year-old spoke positively about his fledging team-mates. “They’ve impressed me an awful lot because it is never easy to come in,” Michael said.

“What has impressed me most is they have come into the team in twos and threes, whereas if you come into a settled team and a winning team on your own then it is probably a little bit easier. They have done ever so well; every one of them has taken their chance and it bodes well for the future.”

Asked if watching the club’s current crop of youngsters has brought back memories of when he broke into West Ham’s first team, Carrick agreed, saying: “It does, when you see the boys coming in and being so enthusiastic, enjoying it and having things go so well for them. The world is at your feet when you are starting your career and everything is ahead of them. It does take me back to when I started out and the feelings that brought. Hopefully they can all go on to have good careers.

“They just have to be patient, I think. You have obviously got to enjoy it and work hard and do all the right things, but you have to be patient because there are going to be ups and downs from week to week, and from season to season. When you get your chance, you have got to do your best and then be ready for when it comes again. It might not be the week after, it might be a month down the line, so it is just about being patient and keeping your feet on the ground.”

Fosu-Mensah became the latest Academy graduate to make his senior debut in the recent 3-2 win over Arsenal and the young Dutchman has caught the eye of United fans, who may not know too much about his promising career. So what can Carrick tell the supporters about our new no.51?

“It is a real rise for Timmy,” Carrick said. “First of all, he came on at left-back in the Arsenal game and that is not a position he is accustomed to playing. He stepped up in tough circumstances and I thought he did terrifically. He is a real athlete, he is quick, he is strong and he’s good on the ball.

“The Watford game was another tough one to come into, to play at centre-back against their front two [Deeney and Ighalo], who are a real handful and are really dangerous. I thought he came through that well. Those performances and the experience of being involved will stand him in good stead.”