Michael Carrick's Return from Injury Will Rejuvenate Manchester United

As keen as Manchester United will be to bring in new faces this January transfer window, Michael Carrick’s return from an Achilles injury will rejuvenate the squad more than any new player could.

United will have their midfield maestro back.

David Moyes confirmed on Monday that Carrick could be back within the next week or so:

Carrick’s absence has been telling in the last month, which is why his return will have an equally noticeable impact. Simply put, he’s one of United’s most important players.


Carrick Is One of the Premier League’s Best Midfielders

When news of Carrick’s injury first broke, B/R’s Rob Dawson stated that “non-believers are about to find out what all the fuss is about.”

How true that proved to be.

In Premier League games against Cardiff, Tottenham, Everton and Newcastle—where United dropped a total of 10 points—the midfield looked toothless and devoid of creativity. That’s because United were without one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.

There’s no doubt that in Carrick, United will be welcoming back a genuine world-class midfielder. His two main attributes demonstrate why that’s the case.


Carrick’s Defensive Duties

In Carrick’s stead, Phil Jones has covered this aspect rather well. Tom Cleverley has also assumed extra defensive duties in order to protect the back four.

But neither of them do the job as well as Carrick.

As he explains in the video above, his role is to break things up and close off space for opponents. Carrick’s positioning in order to do just that is vital. Instead of facing a player directly, he turns his body in order to make it more difficult for the ball to be passed to either side of him.

It’s subtle, but extremely effective.

Think back to Cardiff’s first goal. One pinpoint pass rendered Cleverley and Marouane Fellaini helpless, as Jordon Mutch exploited the space between United’s midfield and defence to allow Fraizer Campbell to equalise.

As the video illustrates, Carrick was averaging 12.7 interceptions a game last season, while the midfielder league average was 9.2 (per Prozone, via PUMA). When Carrick returns, he will alleviate the pressure heaped on United’s defence in his absence.


Carrick’s Midfield Mindset 

This is where United have missed Carrick the most.

“In midfield it’s so important to create space, to open the pitch out and to move forward all the time,” he explains in the video.

United have missed that since he got injured. It’s a difficult skill to master, but one that Carrick performs effortlessly. He sets the tempo in games—deciding when to quicken the pace—and that’s invaluable.

As Prozone (via PUMA) report, Carrick averaged 81.9 passes a game last season, while the midfielder league average was 43.6 passes per game. That’s hardly surprising, given United’s attempts to play free-flowing football. But what it does point to is that Carrick is the team’s lynchpin.

Everything goes through Carrick, which is why his absence has had such a profound impact on the team.


How Will Carrick’s Return Boost United?

Carrick’s return from injury cannot come soon enough for United, whose problems in the midfield are renowned. He will immediately relieve the pressure that has been placed on the likes of Cleverley, Fellaini, Jones and Ryan Giggs.

That, for David Moyes, is priceless.

Equally adept at patrolling in front of the back four as he is lurking on the edge of the opposition’s penalty area, Carrick will ensure that United’s transition from defence to attack is a seamless one.

That is why he is such an important player for United.

In a team boasting the likes of Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie, perhaps it is Carrick whose absence is felt the most.

Moyes may look to sign a central midfielder in the January transfer window, but for United fans the return of Carrick will feel like a new signing in itself. 

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