Michael Carrick praises Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo | OneFootball

Manchester United interim manager Michael Carrick has hit the ground running since taking over until the end of the season last month.

The Red Devils have recorded four victories and one draw in five Premier League games under Carrick, and most of the players have been in impressive form since his arrival.

Kobbie Mainoo is one of the players who have stepped up under Carrick, starting in each of the five fixtures under him.

The 20-year-old did not start once in the Premier League under former boss Ruben Amorim, only coming off the bench 12 times.

However, Mainoo has established himself as a mainstay again at the Theatre of Dreams, and Carrick has praised him.

“I’ve known Kobbie a long time,” Carrick told the BBC. “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.

“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.

“We forget how young he still is. I was just a big fan of watching him play and knowing what he was capable of.

“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.

“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.

“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.”

Man United return to action on Monday with a trip to Everton, and Mainoo will hope to impress again with England manager Thomas Tuchel running the rule over players ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

The youngster has impressed alongside Casemiro in the middle of the park and will be part of the Three Lions’ squad for the summer tournament if he maintains his current form.