Michael Carrick Backs Manchester United Trio for England Recall, Unfazed by No Contact with Thomas Tuchel

MICHAEL CARRICK has not spoken to England boss Thomas Tuchel but backed recalls for Manchester United trio Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo.

Since took over as England coach in January 2025, the only United player he has selected in any of his squads has been while on loan at Aston Villa and Barcelona.

England boss Thomas Tuchel recalled Marcus Rashford last yearCredit: Reuters Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw could be back on England duty this monthCredit: Getty

has not played for England since the Euro 2024 final, while ’s and Mainoo’s last appearance was in the Nations League against Ireland in September 2024.

The three internationals have started in all nine of ’s matches in charge of United so far and Tuchel admitted they are “back in the picture” ahead of his latest squad announcement.

England face Japan and Uruguay in friendlies later this month and Tuchel will confirm his squad on Friday, his last before settling on his World Cup squad.

Maguire was a starter in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups and Shaw was named in England’s 2014 and 2022 squads.

When asked if he had spoken to Tuchel, Carrick said: “No, I haven’t been in touch.

“For the boys, I’d love to see them picked for this one and obviously picked for the summer.

“I don’t have any influence on that but certainly the boys, the way they’re playing, I think they’ve put themselves right in the conversation and right in the picture and given themselves a chance.

“So we’ll see. I literally don’t know any more than you on that one.

Kobbie Mainoo is back in the fold under CarrickCredit: Reuters

“But the boys are definitely playing well enough to warrant a place for sure. It’s just not my decision so we’ll have to wait and see.”

When asked about , who made his first Premier League start in four months under Carrick against Manchester City in January, the United head coach added: “You can always improve on a lot of things, it’s just the age he’s at.

“There is so much more to come and develop.

“That’s natural, that’s the stage he’s at in his career. Hopefully, he’s got a lot of layers to improve.

“He’s doing really well, not having a lot of football to come in and play a run of games, he found his rhythm quickly and his natural flow.

“He was really good again at the weekend, putting in a performance where he did a little bit of everything and really controlled the game in spells, defended when he had to defend.

“Really impressive.”

Carrick also believes ’ phenomenal form reflects well on United’s resurgence in recent months.

Fernandes tallied his 15th and 16th assists of the season in the 3-1 win against Aston Villa and he is one of the .

The 31-year-old has won the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year four times at United but the club’s last PFA recipient was Wayne Rooney in 2010.

“I think he’s had a fantastic season,” Carrick said of Fernandes.

“It’s not so much who I would vote for but I’m delighted he’s playing the way he is and having the impact that he is for us.

“He’s proving to be right up there in those conversations and I’d love to see him take the award, it says a lot about what is going on at this club and how the team’s playing and how Bruno’s playing.

“We’ll have to see how that pans out. But I’m really pleased with everything that he’s doing at the moment.”

United travel to Bournemouth on Friday night with Matthijs de Ligt (back), Patrick Dorgu (hamstring) and Lisandro Martinez (calf) all still sidelined.

Noussair Mazraoui missed training on Wednesday through illness but is expected to make the trip to the south coast.

Martinez, who has missed the last four games, is due to be available for the visit of Leeds United on April 13.

Bruno Fernandes has been phenomenal this seasonCredit: Shutterstock Editorial