Man Utd news: Academy players on standby for Brighton finale
Michael Carrick's last pre-match news conference of the season is not expected to shed any light on him getting the Manchester United job on a permanent basis.If Carrick won't talk about that, he may offer more insight into which of United's younger players are going to be part of his squad for Sunday's trip to Brighton.Shea Lacey is the most obvious given his performances for United's Premier League 2 side this season.The Fletcher twins, Tyler and Jack, have also trained extensively with the first team this season, while 18-year-old Jim Thwaites was on the bench for the first time at Chelsea last month.It is important because United's pre-season starts the day before the World Cup final, against Wrexham in Helsinki.It is impossible to imagine anyone involved at the World Cup figuring, which means younger players will form the basis of the travelling party and therefore be given a chance to impress before the new campaign and press their claims to be part of the squad heading into the season proper.In a summer when United are going to be active in the transfer market, having academy players who can hold down a senior spot would allow more money to be invested elsewhere.Come back to this page later for all the key lines from Carrick.
