How much will Manchester United miss Michael Carrick?

Michael Carrick

Michael Carrick is out for around six weeks with an Achilles injury. This is not good news for Manchester United fans and David Moyes. Carrick has been instrumental in recent seasons for United, most notably last season, when United retained the Premier League title from under Manchester City’s noses. He has starred this season, too, holding together a cracking midfield and supplying the play from back to front on a regular basis.

The Englishman has even worked his way back into the England set-up but this injury is a huge setback. Carrick should play for England most games given his ability both on and off the ball in midfield and his absence for the Chile and Germany games in the coming days will be clear.

In 11 games for United this season, Carrick has an 86% pass accuracy having completed the third-most passes in the Premier League (653 successful passes). Aaron Ramsey (672; 85%) and Yaya Toure (818; 92%) are the only players ahead of Carrick. The 32-year-old has also played 11 key passes – more than Ramsey who has been excellent in the final third this season. Not only is Carrick excellent in a deeper role, winning possession back and keeping the ball, he can also spring attacks or open up defences with an array of passing.

Furthermore, only Patrice Evra and Wayne Rooney have created more chances at United than Carrick this season.

Tom Cleverley is likely to replace Carrick in United’s midfield but he has only created 6 chances so far and completed just 391 passes.

Neither player takes many shots but the two Carrick has had this season have hit the target; Cleverley’s only shot flew over the crossbar. The pair have the same duel success rate (65%) but Cleverley wins more tackles than his English teammate having won 18 out of 25 (72%) to Carrick’s 15 from 22 (68%). However, the former West Ham player is not known for his tackling ability. He’s not a tyical English midfielder; his more cultured style of play leads to him making a lot of interceptions – the third most in the league to tell the truth. His 40 interceptions places him just five behind the leader Mile Jedinak.

Against Crystal Palace at Old Trafford, he intercepted an impressive 11 passes. An incredible figure.

Man United haven’t been great this season and are fifth in the league table. Rooney has had a good season, as has Robin van Persie in patches, but it is Carrick who leads the way at United in Squawka’s Performance Score. He has amassed 340 points; Van Persie is the closest with 268. Carrick’s score places him in 17th place overall in the league, 168 points behind the leader, Steven Gerrard.

In one of his best performances this season, against Stoke City, Carrick was instrumental in his side’s comeback. In total, he made four interceptions, one tackle, two clearances and completed 92% of his passes, including one key pass.

Michael Carrick is hugely important to everything Man Utd do. He is their main midfielder and keeps them ticking over in the same way Paul Scholes used to. Moyes will rue the injury to Carrick and both United and England sorely miss him as he recovers from injury.