Jacob Devaney says Michael Carrick being around Manchester United's academy is more than just a helpful extra. It is something the players notice, value and talk about as a group.
Devaney, who skippered United's Under-21s last season before spending the second half of the campaign on loan at St Mirren, said it was “really important” to have Carrick in the building and at academy sessions. He added that the former midfielder's presence at training and games gives the younger players a clearer sense of how they are being judged and supported.
“It's great to have Michael there at the games, and even when we were in training a week before the first team, I think he was out at every session with the staff,” Devaney said. “It's nice that he has knowledge of what you're doing and he's obviously not afraid to throw the youth in. He's shown that last year.”
A clear message to the academy
The timing matters as Manchester United continue to lean into youth development. The week before the senior players returned for pre-season training, Carrick watched academy sessions at Carrington, then fielded an entirely academy-produced side in the second half against Wrexham on Saturday in Helsinki. That same group of players is set to be involved again against Rosenborg on Friday in Trondheim.
For Devaney, the value is not just in opportunity but in visibility. He said it is “positive to have someone like him in the building,” and noted that the squad speaks about Carrick's involvement as a group. In practical terms, that can matter just as much as any individual appearance in a match or session.
United's youth push continues
Carrick's academy presence also fits a broader pattern at Manchester United. The club has reinforced its talent pool by spending £8m on Tynan Thompson from Tottenham, while Carrick's son Jacey has also been confirmed as a first-year scholar this season.
Put together, it suggests a club trying to give its younger players a more direct line to the first team. Devaney's comments point to the same idea from the player side: if senior voices are present at Carrington and in pre-season, the pathway feels more tangible. For academy players trying to move from promising prospects to real options, that can make a noticeable difference.
