Carrick told two Ten Hag signings ‘should be nowhere near’ the Man Utd XI; ‘jury out’ on another player | OneFootball

Man Utd duo Manuel Ugarte and Joshua Zirkzee shouldn’t “be anywhere near” Michael Carrick’s starting XI, according to former Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood.

The Red Devils have been in amazing form since Michael Carrick took over as interim boss until the end of the season, replacing Ruben Amorim, who was sacked in January 2026.

Carrick has won all four of his first four matches in charge with Man Utd cementing their place in the top four as they look to reach the Champions League ahead of next term.

Before Carrick’s arrival, the Red Devils had won just eight Premier League matches with the former Man Utd midfielder now partly responsible for a third of their victories this season.

A number of players have been back to their best under Carrick but ex-Tottenham boss Sherwood has picked out a few players who they need to move on, including Ugarte and Zirkzee, who were both signed by Erik ten Hag.

Sherwood told Casinostugan: “Is Benjamin Sesko the answer for Manchester United up front? The jury is still out for me. On the evidence of what we saw under Ruben Amorim, I wouldn’t be sure about him.

“But he wouldn’t be alone in that. Manuel Ugarte would be another one. Joshua Zirkzee would be another as well. I could go on and on. None of them should be anywhere near a Manchester United shirt.

“But Sesko is still only a young man and he’s got a few goals now against Burnley, albeit they’ve already got one foot in the Championship, and he’s come on and scored the winner against Fulham, so there’s something there.

“Michael’s just got to get it out of him. I don’t think United can play like they have done in the first half of games under Carrick if Sesko starts. He won’t give him as much as Mbeumo does out of possession because he’s not as dynamic.

“He’s a little bit one-paced without the ball but there’s not a problem. He just completely changes how United would have to play without the ball but they might want to change.

“Michael is flexible. If Sesko starts, it completely shifts the way they would have to play out of possession because he won’t press like Mbeumo does.

“I still think he’s growing as a player too and if he can settle into the environment, because he is at the biggest club in the world, you just don’t know what he will be able to produce.

“If he is happy to play as a super sub and can come to it with that attitude then that’s fine.”