‘Second Captain’ Carrick ready to step up against Aston Villa

The importance of Michael Carrick to Louis van Gaal's Manchester United was illustrated before today's trip to Aston Villa when the manager twice billed him as "my captain" when asked about his qualities.

“He is my captain so he brings a lot of experience but also a lot of composure,” Van Gaal said. “I can use him in different positions and I like that. Because he is my captain he can transfer my philosophy on the pitch.”

Van Gaal said this despite having named Wayne Rooney as his official leader and Darren Fletcher his deputy. When United's media officer interrupted to say that Carrick is the vice-captain, Van Gaal continued: "Next to Rooney he is my captain. Fletcher is also my captain. I have three captains but of course there is a sequence. Rooney is one, Carrick is two, Fletcher is three. In different lines of my team I have captains and that is very important."

Placing aside the news that, in his brusque manner, Van Gaal appeared to have demoted Fletcher to third in line to the armband, the value of Carrick is left in no doubt. Since he returned to the starting line-up Van Gaal's team have reeled off six consecutive Premier League victories. Asked if this was a coincidence, the manager said: "I think you give too much honour to Michael Carrick."

Reinstatement

Yet a sense remains that the upturn in form is a pleasing corollary of Carrick’s reinstatement to the XI following the groin injury he suffered on England duty last month. The seasoned Carrick-watcher would surely agree, especially following a glance at his numbers since joining United in July 2006.

Carrick has made 252 league appearances of which 215 have been starts. He has won five titles, the Champions League, the Fifa Club World Cup, the League Cup and was voted into the 2012-13 Premier League PFA team of the year – the same season that supporters judged him United’s best player.

Carrick was 25 when he was bought for close to £19m from Tottenham Hotspur. Now he is the club’s eldest statesman at 33.

The current campaign began with a disastrous pre-season ankle injury just as Van Gaal became manager.The injury ruled Carrick out until October 2nd when he was forced into action earlier than expected at centre-back following Chris Smalling’s red card in the Manchester derby defeat at the Etihad stadium.

Playing as a central defender has proved no one-off cameo. Van Gaal’s much-trumpeted “philosophy” demands ballplayers to craft attacks from defence. Against Liverpool last weekend Carrick was among the star performers despite again operating in the rearguard.

Injuries

United have accumulated almost 50 injuries already this season. Daley Blind, another midfielder who can also slot into defence, is currently out. So are Smalling and the left-back Luke Shaw while the right-back Rafael Da Silva was last in action at the end of October.

United are third, eight points behind Chelsea. Given the injuries and Van Gaal’s need to bed in, that is an impressive position as Christmas nears.

Yesterday Van Gaal also said: “I like multi-functional players.”

As a princely midfielder, auxiliary defender and de facto captain, Carrick is a perfect fit. Guardian Service