Mount returns to training despite injury, comeback to salvage future! Carrick confirms Manchester United's "Little Messi" cannot debut

Manchester United will face Aston Villa at home this Sunday. The two sides are currently tied on points, with United holding third place thanks to a better goal difference. Hence, this is a direct contest for the third spot. Coach Carrick revealed that midfielder Mason Mount, valued at £60 million, has returned to training, while Lisandro Martinez, Matthijs de Ligt, and Patrick Doku are still sidelined.

Right-back Mazraoui, who was injured against Newcastle United, resumed training first on Wednesday, while Mount was absent at that time. However, on Thursday, this 27-year-old English midfielder also returned to the first-team training ground. Carrick revealed that Mount is not fully recovered, but he is eager to make a comeback. In fact, Mount may never have been completely fit, but with increasing rumors about his potential sale this summer, he is desperate to change his fate.

Carrick explained: "Mason (Mount) has rejoined the squad, which is really great. He is a very important player for Manchester United, and his return to training is a positive step for us. However, he is not 100% fit yet, so he only trained for a short period. But at least he is back, which benefits us."

Regarding whether Mount can participate in Sunday's Premier League match against Villa, Carrick stated: "As for whether he can play on Sunday, we still need to observe. However, for him, returning to the team is already a significant step forward, so we are pleased with that. Currently, that's the situation regarding player recoveries."

The absence of Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt means Harry Maguire must continue to shoulder major responsibilities, and Carrick also supports his return to the England squad. Carrick said: "Harry (Maguire) has performed quite excellently, which is obvious. Not long ago, he was sidelined due to a long-term injury. He returned just when I arrived, and in these matches, we had to adjust his condition to restore his best form. His experience indeed plays a significant role, staying calm in various situations and knowing what to do. Whether he returns to the England team or not, he is ready, and I certainly hope he gets selected."

Among Aston Villa's squad, there are two notable players, one being Jadon Sancho, who is loaned from Manchester United to Villa and will be unavailable due to a回避条款. English media reports that United have decided to放弃 Sancho. Regarding this, Carrick said: "Jadon (is very talented), hence he joined Manchester United, and he has had some outstanding performances. However, for various reasons, he has been away for some time. Now he plays for Villa, and previously performed well at Dortmund, reaching the Champions League final, which shows he is indeed a talent. This season he has also played quite a few matches, which is commendable. As for the future, we'll have to wait and see."

Morgan Rogers, the Villa midfielder who scored twice against United in the first encounter, previously played under Carrick at Middlesbrough. Regarding his former player, Carrick said: "Morgan (Rogers) achieving such excellent results, I am happy for him. Since leaving Middlesbrough, he has made great progress at Villa, becoming a key player and also入选 the England team. This fully demonstrates his ability; we早就 knew his potential—his technique, ball control, ability to create chances and score with both feet, and his strong physical attributes. However, his remarkable development has exceeded my expectations, and perhaps even his own. Seeing him succeed is truly pleasing, though facing him as an opponent is another matter!"

Carrick moved Friday's Premier League pre-match press conference forward by 45 minutes, explaining to English media that this was so he could watch the U21 match against Southampton at Carrington. Manchester United U21 eventually won 2-1, with forward Victor Musa scoring twice and Jack Fletcher providing two assists. With this victory, United's points equaled those of Premier League 2 leaders Chelsea, but they remain second due to a three-goal difference disadvantage.

Carrick apologized to the English media for this: "The U21 match starts 25 minutes later, and I am eager to see their performance. I am very willing to watch youth matches. We always strive to create opportunities for these young players, allowing them to train and gain experience."

Manchester United's 15-year-old "Little Messi," Gabriel, did not participate in this match because, due to his age, he will be unable to play in Premier League and Premier League 2 matches this season. Carrick said: "According to Premier League rules, JJ (Gabriel) is too young to participate. But his performance has been outstanding; our youth system has some excellent players, and we will try to give them锻炼 opportunities as much as possible. He clearly possesses great talent, performing quite well in the U18s, and we have high hopes for him. However, we must also handle matters patiently, helping him grow. We must choose the right时机 to promote them or keep them at their current level. His training is indeed good, and having such players加入 the team is a positive thing."

Regarding training over the past nine days after United's loss to Newcastle United, Carrick summarized: "This week has been generally quite good. The result of the last match was truly disappointing, and such an outcome is frustrating. But we have accepted the fact, learned from it, and trained adequately. Training this week has been very serious, with thorough preparation, and I eagerly await Sunday's match to begin."

Carrick also publicly responded to the controversy involving Scholes being suspected of暗讽 him after the match: "Actually, there's nothing much to say; I think social media interpretations of remarks are somewhat exaggerated. Just stay calm and understand the true meaning. Everyone has different opinions, which is normal. Sometimes, people like to exaggerate or even distort. That's fine too; I'm not worried, and there's no need to大惊小怪."