Michael Carrick struck a chord with many Manchester United fans as he lavished praise on Kobbie Mainoo after his side's thrilling 5-2 victory over Ipswich at Old Trafford, calling the midfielder's performance "immense". Starting in the Premier League for the first time since he surprisingly failed to play a minute at the World Cup, Mainoo caught the eye with his performance and Carrick made sure the 21-year-old was not overlooked on a day skipper Bruno Fernandes scored a hat-trick. But former United goalkeeper Ben Foster had a different take.
"I love Kobbie," Foster wrote on his Threads account. "He's the future, but he's not there yet. Be honest with yourself and you'll know he's not gonna be one of the first four or five names on the team sheet.
"If he can get a year out on loan where he is the main man, where he is needed and relied upon every single game, that will instil something in him he won't get at Manchester United." The social media reaction suggested Foster had got it wrong. There are plenty of people who feel Mainoo absolutely should be one of the "first four or five names" in Carrick's side. But, if that was correct, what would it mean for the three international midfielders United have spent more than £150m on this summer after identifying it as a priority area?
Carrick is about to feel the impact of United's qualification for the Champions League. Last season, United had two midweek games in the second half of the season. They drew at West Ham and lost at Newcastle.
They then had 13 and 11-day gaps to their next fixture respectively. Starting with their trip to Everton, United have five games in 16 days before the first international break of the campaign. If Carrick's side progress in the EFL Cup, they won't have a spare midweek until Christmas.
Rotation is inevitable in United's new-look midfield this season - but what will that look like? In assessing the signings that have been made, Carrick speaks about balance. Brazil midfielder Casemiro left at the end of his contract while Uruguyan Manuel Ugarte - likely to leave anyway had he not suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury during the World Cup - is out until next year.
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