Several Manchester United U18s will have made a good impression on Michael Carrick when he watched their FA Youth Cup fourth round tie against Derby County. After taking in the U21s’ 3-1 win over Sporting on Tuesday, the Middlesbrough boss was back on academy duty three days later, joined by a full first-team coaching staff.
Several Manchester United U18s will have made a good impression on Michael Carrick when he watched their FA Youth Cup fourth round tie against Derby County.
After taking in the U21s’ 3-1 win over Sporting on Tuesday, the Middlesbrough boss was back on academy duty three days later, joined by a full first-team coaching staff.
The match itself was worth the trip, with United edging out Derby in a game that could easily have seen more goals but ended 2-1 to the hosts.
Carrick will not have been there just for show. With 16 games left in the season, he is likely looking at which players could be brought into the squad.
One player, in particular, stood out with his performance.
Godwill Kukonki has now reached new heights in his performances for Manchester United
Rafe McCormack stood out on Friday night, and Chido Obi probably stole the show by scoring the winner. But Godwill Kukonki also turned a few heads.
Kukonki lined up at left-back and was hard to miss. Not just for his 6ft 5in frame, but for how confidently he handled the game.
On top of his physical presence, the 17-year-old has impressive technical skills that are not typical for someone his size.
He looked comfortable carrying the ball forward, often moving into dangerous areas before linking up with more creative players further ahead.
It has been noticeable how much better he has gotten at using his size effectively over the past year. His control stood out against Derby, and it is clear he is becoming more than just a physical player.
Defensively, the Briton looks sharper too. His awareness has improved, helping him close down space and break up attacks more consistently.
Kukonki used to catch Ruben Amorim’s eye mostly because of his physical attributes. But now he is putting together a far more complete game – and Friday’s match was a good example of that progress.
Where Godwill Kukonki could fit into Michael Carrick’s line-up
Kukonki played at left-back for the U18s on Friday, but that position probably will not be his long-term home.
Manchester United have used him in that role to help improve his technical skills, and it has paid off, giving him an extra dimension to his game.
Still, if Carrick does decide to bring him up, it would likely be as a centre-back.
But in Carrick’s system, the left-back often shifts inside during possession anyway, so there could be an argument for using him as a back-up to Luke Shaw.
No matter where he plays next, Friday night was another step forward for Kukonki. It would not be a surprise to see him around the first team again before too long.
Category: General Sports
