Carrick backs Mason Mount to bounce back after Man Utd’s lengthy break
By Joel Masibo, April 12, 2026Manchester United’s interim manager Michael Carrick believes the extended pause between matches has given Mason Mount valuable time to regain fitness and sharpness ahead of his return to action for Manchester United.
Mount struggles
The midfielder’s 2026 campaign has been disrupted despite a strong start earlier in the season. After making a substitute appearance, where a late effort was disallowed, in Carrick’s opening match against Manchester City, Mount was ruled out for roughly two months due to injury.
He made his comeback towards the end of the recent clash with AFC Bournemouth and has since used the break to continue his recovery through training sessions at Carrington and a camp in Ireland.
“It’s great to have Mason back, to miss him so quickly after we came in and came together,” Carrick said.
“So, he’s obviously had what, nearly two, three weeks of building up and finding his rhythm, finding his sharpness. So yeah, it’s great to have him back.”
With tactical adjustments implemented under Carrick, questions have arisen about where Mount fits into the setup moving forward.
“I think his versatility is a big strength,” he added.
Utility player
“He can play through the middle, he can play in midfield, he can play wide, and he can do so many different roles. And he’s certainly a team player.
“He’s a player that I really like, and there’s loads to come from Mason, we’ve just got to give him the time to get fit again and be patient with that, but he’s certainly in a good place right now.”
Mount has featured 20 times this season, scoring three goals and registering one assist, as United continue their push for a place in next season’s Champions League.
The Premier League encounter, set for a 20:00 BST kickoff at Old Trafford, will mark United’s first match since their 2-2 stalemate away to Bournemouth on March 20.
Maguire ruled out
Defender Harry Maguire, who recently committed his future to the club by signing a new deal, will not feature in the game after being sent off in that Bournemouth fixture, resulting in a suspension.
There is, however, a boost for the squad with Lisandro Martinez returning to training during the team’s camp in Dublin. The Argentine has been sidelined for the last five matches, making his comeback timely for the Reds.