Manchester United Announces Two Players Traveling with the Squad! Carrick Can Secure Top Four with a Win, Plans for Next Season Already Underway

Manchester United manager Carrick announced that Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw have traveled north to Tyneside with the team and are expected to play in Wednesday's Premier League clash against Newcastle United. Both players were substituted early due to injuries in the last home match, a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace, but the Red Devils will give them maximum time to prove their fitness.

Luke Shaw was replaced by Mazraoui after only half of the first half, while Maguire came off in the final minutes, replaced by Eden Hazard. Carrick emphasized that neither player was injured but was substituted due to discomfort. He now hopes both players can recover in time to start against Newcastle United at St. James' Park. Therefore, both players have traveled with the squad to Newcastle.

Carrick has preferred to keep his starting lineup unchanged since taking charge, a fact he does not hide. When asked about Shaw and Maguire's availability, the Manchester United manager replied: "We hope so and are working towards that. They are not feeling 100%, but there is still some time before the match. We will have to assess their condition. Of course, we are doing everything possible to give them a chance. They are not injured, just not feeling completely comfortable. The exact situation is unclear, and we will have to monitor them today and tomorrow morning before making a decision."

For the away match against Newcastle, Manchester United might be without Lisandro Martinez and Mason Mount, as both have not yet returned to full training. Martinez has missed the last two matches with a calf issue, while Mount has been absent for five games due to a training injury. Defender Matthijs de Ligt has been out since late November with a back injury; Patrick Doku was injured against Arsenal and is not expected back until mid-April.

Carrick explained: "Lisandro's issue is minor, so he should be back soon. He won't be out for long. We will monitor his condition closely over the next few days to see when he can return, but he is not far off. Mason (Mount) is indeed getting closer. He is already training on the grass and will be back in action shortly. He just needs to be patient. He is an important player, so we need to take good care of him and ensure he is fully ready for the final stage of the season."

The Manchester United manager continued: "Matthijs (de Ligt) has a back problem, and his recovery has been a bit slow. We have been working on it, and he is improving. It's moving in the right direction, but as I said, he is a bit behind. It's difficult to pinpoint the exact gap, especially in terms of timing. But he is making progress, which is positive. Unfortunately, Patrick (Doku) will be out for a longer period. We are still determining the exact duration. Initially, we weren't sure if it was a muscle strain or something more serious, but currently, it seems to be quite significant."

A victory away at Newcastle would solidify Manchester United's position in the Premier League top four. Following Liverpool's (48 points) surprising 1-2 loss to bottom-placed Wolves on Tuesday, a win would put the Red Devils (51 points) six points clear of fifth place! Moreover, with fourth-placed Aston Villa facing Chelsea at home this round, Carrick's team could benefit—either extending their lead over Villa or increasing the gap over sixth place.

The Premier League is almost certain to have five Champions League spots next season, meaning a top-five finish would secure a return to the Champions League. If Manchester United beats Newcastle and Chelsea loses to Villa, the Red Devils would be nine points ahead of sixth place, as seventh-placed Brentford drew 0-0 with Bournemouth this round.

Without overcomplicating the calculations, Manchester United simply needs to conquer St. James' Park to move closer to a Champions League ticket. Interestingly, Newcastle is Carrick's hometown club, which he supported as a child. Statistics show that since December 2018, Manchester United has not won at St. James' Park in front of fans.

Carrick urged his players to stay vigilant: "Football is a sport where it's difficult to achieve good results consistently. I am always learning and trying different approaches. Many factors influence a match, such as player form. The key is to stay grounded, remain calm, and not be swayed by emotions. We must use confidence to drive ourselves forward. We are eager to achieve more, so we need to maintain consistent performances."

Carrick added: "Regarding matches, we don't look too far ahead. We focus on the present and put our energy into the work at hand. I've been through many such situations; it's indeed a challenging phase. We know where we stand, but that doesn't mean we should discuss various hypotheticals and possibilities."

However, British media reports suggest that if Carrick can guide the team back to the Champions League, he will be appointed permanently. The UK's *The Sun* states that he has already begun planning for the long term. With no suitable external candidates available and Carrick leading Manchester United back into the Premier League's top three for the first time since May 2023, the manager's role next season is likely to be his.

Carrick's agent, Joe Tong, was seated in the directors' box at Old Trafford during Manchester United's victory over Crystal Palace last Sunday.

When asked if he has a good chance of being appointed permanently, Carrick laughed and said: "Isn't that the case every week? Of course, you can't escape this situation. Frankly, I don't have much to say. I enjoy being here and love what I'm doing. From the start, I've said I won't make decisions for short-term gain or quick fixes. Regardless of how long I'm here, I believe it's my responsibility to make decisions that are best for the club in the long run. Of course, winning helps, and the players have been performing exceptionally well. We'll just have to wait and see how it all ends."

Manchester United currently trails league leaders Arsenal by 13 points and Manchester City by 8 points. Some fans are even dreaming of a miraculous comeback to win the title.

When British media mentioned this possibility to Carrick, he said: "You're adding drama again, right? Listen, anything can happen in football, but we must be realistic and aware of our situation. I think Manchester United can only focus on winning our next games and see how things unfold. Right now, there are two excellent teams above us. There are also strong teams behind us. We are in a decent position, but we must not get carried away. We need to stay patient, live in the moment, and of course, maintain our confidence."

Carrick concluded: "Where that will take us remains to be seen. But regardless, we will keep moving forward. On the positive side, the glass is definitely half full; the negatives are less important. Of course, I look at things realistically. To achieve championship success, we must win many matches. So, we will continue as before, taking it one task at a time. We have another match coming up, and then there will be some rest before facing Villa. So, we can give our all on Wednesday night."