Michael Carrick buoyed by Mason Mount’s return as Champions League push resumes

MANCHESTER – Manchester United return to action on April 13 with renewed optimism, after interim manager Michael Carrick welcomed Mason Mount back to fitness and saw Lisandro Martinez return to training ahead of their English Premier League clash with Leeds United.

Carrick’s men have not played for more than three weeks since a 2-2 draw at Bournemouth, but resume their campaign on an upbeat note and looking to strengthen their grip on a Champions League place, buoyed by improving squad availability as the season heads into a crucial phase.

Mount has played sparingly due to injury, and was on the pitch for just a minute of the Bournemouth draw.

“It’s great to have Mason back, to miss him so quickly after we came in and came together,” Carrick, who was also caretaker manager in late 2021, told reporters on April 11.

“He’s obviously had nearly two or three weeks of building up and finding his rhythm, finding his sharpness. I think his versatility is a big strength of his. He can play through the middle, he can play midfield, he can play wide, and he can do so many different roles.

“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.”

Carrick was undecided on the status of Martinez, who has not played since suffering a calf injury in early February.

“It’s just that call that we make,” he said. “We wouldn’t be pushed into anything.”

United are third on 55 points from 31 games. They are level on points with fourth-placed Aston Villa, who drew 1-1 at Nottingham Forest on April 12 and have played a game more. Liverpool are fifth on 52 points having played 32 games.

Carrick has overseen a spectacular run since taking charge in January, guiding United to 23 points from a possible 30 and restoring calm after a turbulent first half of the season. He will hold the reins till the season ends.

With just weeks remaining and the race for the five Champions League places tightening, United know there is little room for complacency.

The April 13 match also reignites one of English football’s fiercest rivalries, with the 44-year-old Carrick keen for his players to embrace the occasion.

“It’s gone on for an awful long time,” the Englishman said. “I think that’s what rivalries are there for, for a really good reason, I think, to be part of, and the intensity and the emotion and the passion that goes into it.”

Leeds are 15th, three points above the drop zone.

Daniel Farke said his side will be without key players Anton Stach and Joe Rodon for the rest of April with Daniel James also out. Jaka Bijol, Noah Okafor and Gabriel Gudmundsson are doubts.

Leeds also had a shorter break than United, having reached the FA Cup semi-finals on April 5.

On United’s long break, Farke said: “It can be an advantage or disadvantage. They didn’t have games or injuries, but on the other hand they can also enjoy themselves in training. You never know, especially at this time in the season, to have such a long break.” REUTERS