"I hope" - Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick backed for future Man United return | OneFootball

The Middlesbrough manager has enjoyed a strong tenure at the Riverside Stadium, and his ex-teammate has weighed in on his chances of a United return.

Tomasz Kuszczak has praised his former Manchester United teammate Michael Carrick for the job he has done at Middlesbrough and has backed him to return to Old Trafford in the future.

Boro currently sit fifth in the Championship, but they have lost touch with the league leaders, and they are nine points behind Sunderland, who are in fourth.

Inconsistency throughout the campaign for Carrick's side has made it difficult for them to keep pace with the top four, however, they do look as though they have enough to finish in a play-off place for the second time in three seasons.

Middlesbrough have improved from 2023/24, and their manager has played a large role in that, and he has an extremely bright future in his coaching career.

Tomasz Kuszczak on future Michael Carrick, Man United reunion

Carrick has enjoyed nearly three strong years at the Riverside Stadium, and he guided the Teessiders to a top-six finish in his first season at the club.

Despite losing to Coventry City in the semi-finals, it was a good experience for the 43-year-old in the early days of his career in management, and he may have the chance to right some of the wrongs that occurred then if this campaign ends with the play-offs.

Middlesbrough have historically been a strong second-tier club, and this is a trend that has continued under Carrick's tenure, and if he can make that jump to the Premier League, then teams in the division may start to have him on their radar more often.

Kuszczak, his ex-teammate at Manchester United, believes that he has enough quality to manage at the highest level, and could even make a return to M16.

Speaking to FLW via 888sport.com, the former Old Trafford shot-stopper tipped Carrick to manage in the Premier League and backed him to return to United.

He said: "I hope he can. He has learnt his trade well at Boro and still in the mix for pushing them to promotion this season.

"They are nicely positioned, so it will be an interesting second half of the season for him and Boro."

Kuszczak continued: "Boro have been in and around the play-offs for a few seasons now so showing good consistency.

"Returning to Man Utd, absolutely, he knows the club and this is very important to bring his winning mentality to the players, whether it be the young players coming through for as a coach to the first team."

Michael Carrick could guide his exciting Middlesbrough team to promotion this season

While the automatic promotion places do seem to be a stretch too far for Middlesbrough this season, a play-off finish will give them ample opportunity to reach the Premier League for the first time since the 2016/17 campaign.

The favourites right now to win at Wembley will be any of Burnley, Leeds United, Sheffield United and Sunderland due to the gap they have at the top of the Championship and their performances so far this season, but the play-offs are a lottery and the disappointment of missing out on the top two could hit hard.

Carrick is still in the early days of his managerial career, but his record as a manager is already strong, and there will be a desire to manage in the Premier League as soon as he can.

Doing so with Middlesbrough ahead of two of the top four would be a huge statement, and other clubs will take notice.