Michael Carrick Highlights 'Positives' from New Man United Midfield Duo After Wrexham Friendly Loss in Helsinki

MICHAEL CARRICK again touted Mason Mount as a central midfielder after Manchester United’s 1-0 defeat to Wrexham.

on Saturday without almost all of their World Cup participants.

Santos started in Helsinki Credit: Getty Santos is wearing the same number as compatriot Fred did for United Credit: Getty

in midfield and the pair played 45 minutes before Carrick picked an entirely different XI for the second half.

and has started pre-season there alongside the £50million Santos.

The former Chelsea duo cost a combined £110m but could be behind and in United’s midfield pecking order.

United missed out on and while a move for Atalanta midfielder Ederson collapsed before they brought in Santos and Tielemans this week.

The club want another midfielder and pressure is likely to mount on director of football Jason Wilcox after accepted by Aston Villa.

“There’s loads of little positives to take from the game,” Carrick told MUTV.

“I thought Andrey and Mason did some really good things and connected really well. I could see some positives there.

“Because it is a week in, those sharp little movements and bright moments that you are looking for, they come as you progress through the weeks of training.

“That is what it is. There were good signs from Andrey on his first one, he’s getting in the rhythm and feel of it again, so it was good to see him in a red shirt.”

The United website billed Santos as a “regular” for Chelsea last term even though he started 25 of their 59 matches.

Santos, 22, is the most defensive-minded of United’s fit contingent of midfield options but was billed as a box-to-box recruit by Wilcox.

United still have five weeks until their opening and they have five more friendlies to play.

The Wrexham game was arranged primarily for the purposes of match fitness and there was a crowd of 20,000 in the 36,25-capacity Olympic Stadium in the Finnish capital.

“As I said before the game, the boys have only been back together for 10 days or so,” Carrick added.

“It was just about getting through today, looking for some positives, looking for some good things and knowing that it wasn’t going to be perfect. That is only natural for the first one.

“I think the most important thing is that everyone came through it in good shape. No injuries, so we can move on and take the next step next week.”