Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick was recently recalled to the England national team by manager Roy Hodgson, and looks set to make his first cap for the Three Lions since mid-October 2013 – which was a 2-0 win over Poland (World Cup 2014 qualifiers). The 33-year-old has come back into the fold at domestic level, after having returned from injury, and was praised by his new manager Louis van Gaal following a contract extension.
“He is important because he can read the game as a player on the pitch. He can play the ball forward and that I like, as our aim is always to pass the ball more forward rather than sideways or backwards. He is my second captain and is an important man for my selection. That says enough what I think about (him),” said the United boss.
This season, he’s made just 14 Premier League starts for Manchester United, with injury problems forcing the likes of Ander Herrera and Wayne Rooney to occupy the central midfield area for the Red Devils earlier on this season. He’s been on the periphery with England even more, being an unused substitute against Slovenia (Euro 2016 qualifier) in mid-November last year. Hodgson hasn’t been too fond of Carrick, but could now be open for a return given England’s dearth of quality.
Jordan Henderson (Liverpool) and Michael Carrick (Man Utd) are likely to start in the midfield for England, potentially in the holding role to provide creativity for the forwards. The veteran midfielder’s strength is his passing. Carrick has completed 89% of his passes in the Premier League this season, with 79% of his long balls finding their intended target.
Carrick does provide protection too. He’s made 47 tackles and interceptions in the Premier League, but is very wise with his positioning to ensure opposition teams are stifled playing through the middle. So for England, the long-serving United midfielder could become a key component after two years of inactivity. There’s a real lack of top-level options at Hodgson’s disposal, so any experience he can get his hands on will be vital.
The likes of Fabian Delph (Aston Villa) and Ross Barkley (Everton) are fringe players, but there’s nobody else to pick in such a key area as Jack Wilshere (Arsenal) continues to suffer with injury. With no Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) and no Frank Lampard (Chelsea) in the England side, Hodgson has little choice but to plump for United ball-player. So can Michael Carrick now become a key player in England’s midfield? Could he make the Euro 2016 squad next year?
