Man United: Carrick eagerly awaits the return of Mainoo and Rashford

Following their time with England in the 2026 World Cup, Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford will head back to Manchester United with contrasting feelings, bringing uncertainty about their roles at Old Trafford for the upcoming campaign.

It's not uncommon for Manchester United players to become the center of attention after major tournaments. David Beckham after the 1998 World Cup, Phil Neville after Euro 2000, and Wayne Rooney after the 2006 World Cup all went through similar situations.

Mainoo and a forgettable World Cup campaign

If we exclude backup goalkeeper James Trafford, Mainoo was the only England player who did not play a single minute at the 2026 World Cup. This is even more puzzling given that Thomas Tuchel himself admitted after the defeat to Argentina in the semifinal that England lacked the ball control ability of Spain, Argentina, or Brazil.

Yet that is precisely Mainoo's greatest strength. The 21-year-old midfielder's ability to retain possession and operate in tight spaces was clearly demonstrated in the 2023-24 FA Cup final against Man City as well as the Euro 2024 final against Spain. If given the opportunity in the semifinal against Argentina, or even earlier in the Round of 16 clash with Mexico, Mainoo could have made a difference for England's style of play. Unfortunately, he also missed the third-place match against France due to a back injury.

Three weeks of rest after the World Cup will be valuable time for Mainoo to regain his mental balance after a tournament where he was essentially "present but absent." For Manchester United, the positive is that the midfielder had been patiently waiting for his chance in the final stages under Ruben Amorim before being given trust by Michael Carrick. It is likely that Mainoo will rejoin the squad before the friendly against Leeds on August 12 to prepare for the new season.

Rashford: stay at Man United or continue his departure?

If Mainoo returns to Old Trafford carrying disappointment, Rashford ends the World Cup on a more positive note. He scored in the 4-2 victory over Croatia in the group stage and provided an assist for Bukayo Saka's goal in the 6-4 win over France in the third-place match. His substitution at halftime in that game was purely a tactical decision, not due to injury.

A total of 223 minutes of playing time across 6 matches gave Rashford additional confidence ahead of his return to Manchester United. However, his future remains uncertain. The plan to continue at Barcelona for another season has hit a snag as the Catalan club refused to activate the £26 million buyout clause. Barcelona's successful acquisition of Anthony Gordon from Newcastle has further narrowed the door for Rashford's return to Camp Nou.

The decision now largely depends on Michael Carrick. The 44-year-old manager has played alongside Rashford on the pitch and also worked with him under Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Unlike Ruben Amorim, Carrick does not want to maintain a squad with too many players who are not part of his plans.

He is ready to give Rashford a chance at left forward, a position where Manchester United are still searching for suitable options, including Crysencio Summerville of West Ham. If he agrees to stay at Old Trafford, Rashford will have to compete directly with Matheus Cunha for a starting spot. Conversely, finding a new club for the English striker will not be easy. Manchester United may be forced to continue negotiations with Barcelona for a loan or permanent transfer. The very high salary and the fact that Rashford has turned 28 are two major obstacles for interested clubs.

If both Mainoo and Rashford return in good physical and mental condition, Carrick will have additional quality players to aim for a season where Manchester United will compete on multiple fronts.