Michael Carrick spent the week before first-team training resumed at Carrington this summer watching Manchester United's best youngsters train as he considered who to hand opportunities to during pre-season. United's Under-21s returned to training a week before the seniors, but while the first-team stars weren't back in the building, Carrick was, and he spent most days with the club's academy staff watching sessions.
Carrick's Commitment to Academy
This is another sign of the commitment Carrick has to United's academy, something the young players have spoken about and appreciated. Nineteen-year-old Jacob Devaney highlighted the boost it gives youngsters. Carrick singled out Devaney for praise after the pre-season opener against Wrexham in Helsinki on Saturday, and Devaney is delighted to have a first-team head coach who takes such an interest in the academy.
"(It's) really important, we speak about it as a group," Devaney said. "It's great to have Michael there at the games, and even like we were in training a week before the first team, and I think he was out at every session with the staff. It's nice that he takes knowledge of what you're doing and he's obviously not afraid to throw the youth in. He's shown that last year. It's positive to have someone like him in the building."
Devaney's Loan Experience
Devaney spent the second half of last season on loan at St. Mirren and impressed with the Scottish Premiership side, starting 16 games in total. That has given him the bug for first-team football, and while he will continue to get opportunities with United in the early weeks of pre-season, he is ready to go out on loan again to build up his experience.
"I want to play first-team football, whether that be at Man United for the next year or not," he said. "The main aim and goal for me is to play for Man United week in, week out. So whether I have to go on loan again and gain more valuable experience like what I have done at St. Mirren, that's what I'll do, or whether that be in the building, learning from the best, which is here at Man United, so we'll see what happens."
Versatility on Display
Devaney spent his six months north of the border playing in midfield, his natural position, but he also played centre-back at times in age-group football and played the second half against Wrexham there. That included coming up against the experienced Wales international Kieffer Moore, and although Devaney was giving up around six inches in height, he delivered an impressive performance that caught the eye of Carrick.
"I see myself as a midfielder, but I'm playing for Man United at the end of the day, so wherever the staff want me to play, I'll play, and I'll try my best. But yeah, ideally, I'm a midfielder by trade," said Devaney. "Wherever I'm put on the pitch, I played multiple positions in the last year, two years. And no matter who I'm up against, whether it's the lads in training or lads like Kieffer Moore, I'll apply myself, and I'll give 100%, and I'll always back myself to come out on top as well."
"I thought me and Dan [Armer] dealt with him [Moore] well. It goes without saying he's a big physical threat. He's had a good career. But I thought we dealt with him well as a pair, and it's nice to test yourself against someone like him in games like this."
