Kobbie Mainoo is back in the Man Utd team under Michael Carrick but the head coach wants to see more young players making the breakthrough at Old Trafford.

If there was concern for the future of the Manchester United academy while Ruben Amorim was in charge at Old Trafford, the club’s prestigious record of blooding young players is in safe hands while Michael Carrick is around. Amorim’s relationship with the academy wasn’t a particularly strong one and his absence from games and sidelining of Kobbie Mainoo invited mistrust.

In three weeks, Carrick has shown a very different approach. He has attended two Under-21 games and an FA Youth Cup tie, and Mainoo has played every minute of his three games in charge.

Mainoo’s renaissance has been one of the stories of Carrick’s return to the dugout. The jewel in the crown of the United academy, he is set to be offered a long-term contract that reflects his status as a key player in the first team and any concerns that he might have to leave have disappeared.

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The 20-year-old was weighing up a loan move at the start of January, having failed to start a single Premier League game under Amorim this season, but he is firmly back in the picture now and contract talks are back on the agenda.

Carrick restored Mainoo to the team because he knew he needed what the Stockport-born youngster could offer, but the 44-year-old is also steeped in United’s traditions and although his contract is only until the end of the season, he has been a visible presence around the academy.

This week, he included 15-year-old forward JJ Gabriel in first-team training, even though he is too young to appear in the Premier League this season. He also called up 17-year-old full-back Yuel Helafu, twins Jack and Tyler Fletcher, 18, and 20-year-old midfielder Jack Moorhouse.

Carrick’s focus on delivering Champions League football for United this season might prevent him from handing out many appearances to those young players, but over time, he is determined to see more of the club’s academy graduates given their chance and believes there is nothing better than giving a young player their opportunity.

“We want more, we want more players to come through the system and to get into the first team,” said Carrick. “For me, there’s no better feeling than giving younger players a chance. He’s [Mainoo] taken the chance over recent weeks and I am sure he will continue to do that.

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“Obviously, with Munich and the kind of the foundation of the football club, everything feeds off that. I’m not putting everything on Kobbie’s shoulders, he’s doing terrific at the moment and I’m sure he’ll continue to be that way.”

United’s record of including an academy graduate in every matchday squad now extends into an 89th year, although there were times under Amorim when you did fear how much longer it would last and whether it would become a tick-box exercise.

That is no longer the case. Mainoo is in the team on merit and Shea Lacey has also become part of the first-team picture in recent weeks.

Lacey, 18, was handed six minutes of football under Amorim and was an unused substitute in seven of the eight occasions he was named on the bench. Darren Fletcher gave the winger minutes against Burnley and Brighton and he was back in the squad under Carrick last weekend.

“I think from the club’s point of view, there’s an ideal scenario to bring players through the academy and have them in the team and have them go through their career at this club, staying in and around it,” said Carrick.

“I think I was fortunate enough to be with a lot of players that managed to do that, and I think it’s important.”

An enthusiastic welcome for American athletes at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics opening ceremony quickly soured when cameras focused on Vice President JD Vance.

Team USA, led by speedskater and flag bearer Erin Jackson, was among the final delegations to parade into Milan’s San Siro stadium on Friday.

While the crowd cheered for the athletes, jeers and whistles erupted as Vance and his wife, Usha Vance, appeared on stadium screens, waving American flags.

Commentators highlighted this distinct shift in the crowd’s reception.

“There’s the vice president and his wife, Usha; those are not, oh, those are a lot of boos for him,” one commentator said on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s coverage.

The Independent’s Flo Clifford reported from inside San Siro stadium, “A largely positive reception for the U.S. contingent. There are thousands of American fans in the stadium – but very definite boos and jeers for vice president JD Vance and his wife, second lady Usha Vance, who the camera pans to waving American flags for a few brief seconds.”

Support for the U.S. among its allies has been eroding as the Trump administration has taken an aggressive posture on foreign policy, including imposing tariffs, military action in Venezuela and threats to invade Greenland.

On social media, viewers at home noted hearing the boos as well. It comes after International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry urged spectators to be “respectful” toward U.S. athletes after worldwide backlash over Trump’s immigration raids and the killing of two Americans by border officers in Minnesota.

Jeers also rang out when Israel’s delegation entered the stadium.

Besides Milan, athlete parades were held in three other locations: Cortina d’Ampezzo, Livigno and Predazzo. The Games are staged across a vast area of northern Italy, making them the most geographically dispersed Winter Olympics in history.

Commendations have continued to trail the unveiling of modern sports equipment and the Ibom Gymnasium by the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Sports, with top athletes hailing the development as a major turning point for sports in the state.

The latest praise came from National Women’s 800 metres champion, Comfort James, who described the new facilities as timely and transformational for athletes’ growth and performance.

In a message sent to the Commissioner for Sports, Elder Paul Bassey, Comfort expressed deep gratitude to Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, for investing in world-class training equipment and a fully equipped gymnasium for athletes.

She noted that the provision of modern facilities would greatly improve preparation and reduce the challenges athletes previously faced due to poor training conditions.

“I wish to express my sincere appreciation to the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, for this wonderful encouragement and support he has given to Akwa Ibom athletes through the provision of modern sports equipment and a gymnasium. I am really excited that we now have modern facilities to train and properly prepare for competitions,” she said.

Comfort James, who set a new national 800m record of 2:04.05 at the 2025 National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, said the project shows the governor’s strong commitment to sports development in the state.

She also applauded the Sports Commissioner, Elder Paul Bassey, for his role in ensuring the successful completion of the project.

“Sir, I want to thank you because I know this may not have been possible without your contribution. I am particularly grateful that this is happening during your tenure as Commissioner for Sports,” she added.

The national champion recalled that athletes previously struggled to train effectively due to the absence of proper equipment, describing it as a major setback to performance and progress.

“With these facilities now available, I am confident they will greatly improve our development and performances at both national and international levels,” she said.

Comfort, who won the women’s 800m title at both the 2025 Nigerian Athletics Championships and the National Sports Festival, urged athletes in Akwa Ibom to make responsible and effective use of the new equipment.

She encouraged them to remain focused, disciplined and committed, stressing that proper use of the facilities would help them bring more glory to the state in future competitions.

Manchester United’s interim head coach Michael Carrick was among the attendees for the Munich air disaster remembrance service.

Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick attended the Munich air disaster remembrance service on Friday. Carrick was joined by club captain Bruno Fernandes at Old Trafford.

Omar Berrada, Jason Wilcox and Andy Burnham were also in attendance on the 68th anniversary of the tragedy, which claimed the lives of 23 people, including eight United players.

Each year on the anniversary of the Munich air disaster, thousands of people attend memorial services at Old Trafford and Manchesterplatz, the site of the crash.

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Carrick spoke eloquently about the tragedy at his press conference on Thursday. “It means a great deal,” he said. “I was just saying about how long did it take to kind of love this place and love being in this place, it was quickly and as soon as you come you are made aware.

“You can’t help but know and understand the history and I think it’s a responsibility that when you work here, you play, you coach, you understand what’s come before us and the behaviours and responsibilities that we need to carry through.

“Munich is probably the biggest part of the history of this club in terms of the tragedy itself and how the team and the football club bounced back from it and then went on to success.”

Carrick added: “When I came, Sir Alex would mention it. It was important to him and was important to us and then it ends up becoming a way of life. I think it’s important that we carried it on.

“I was here for the 50th [anniversary], I was here for the 60th, you’ve got the 70th, not sure yet. Being aware of it and being around it you really feel that emotion. Inside the stadium on Saturday I’m sure we’ll feel it as well.”

Reverend John Boyers led the service, while Manchester United Foundation participants, representatives from the Under-13 girls’ and boys’ academy teams and Sammy McIlroy were also involved.

The Minnesota Vikings historically have struggled to run the football consistently to this point in the Kevin O’Connell era.

2025 was widely considered their most successful season in that department, but still, Minnesota 23rd in rushing yards (1841), 18th in rushing touchdowns (15), and 11th in yards per carry (4.5). With the team still very much a middle of the pack group in the rushing department despite some revamps to the offensive line last year, the Vikings could be looking to change things in their running back room.

One way the Vikings could try to do that is through the 2026 NFL Draft. Here are the top five running backs Minnesota could pick up in the first three rounds this April.

Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame

It’s a long shot, especially now that the Vikings finished their season at 9-8, but Jeremiyah Love could be an option if a miracle happened and he fell into the late teens this spring. Love brings a little bit of everything out of the backfield. He’s fast, shifty, balanced enough to bounce off tacklers, and he can be a receiver.

He might not quite have the athletic repertoire of a Bijan Robinson, but Love was one of the most highly productive players in all of college football over the past two years, totaling 2,497 yards rushing and 35 touchdowns since 2024. There’s a very strong chance that he ends up in the top 10 of this spring’s draft.

Jonah Coleman, Washington

Jonah Coleman is one of my favorite players that I’ve watched from this draft class so far. The man is a bowling ball at the running back position at 5’9″ and 228 pounds, and that makes him a very difficult player for opposing defenses to tackle.

Coleman absorbs contact with the best of them, and his balance will be a very attractive trait to NFL teams this spring. He won’t blow anyone away with top end speed, but there isn’t anything Coleman doesn’t do well. He is very patient behind the line of scrimmage, is a great workhorse back, and he can also contribute in pass protection and as a receiver. He caught 31 passes this past season with the Washington Huskies.

Coleman can certainly contribute at the NFL level, but because of his lack of top end speed, he likely will be available for the Vikings in the second or even third round.

Emmett Johnson, Nebraska

It’s been awhile since Nebraska has had a high end running back, but Emmett Johnson changed the tides in the backfield this season for the Cornhuskers. He became the first Nebraska running back with 1000+ yards since Devine Ozigbo in 2018.

Johnson thrives in zone running schemes, and he was one of the most explosive playmakers out of the backfield in all of college football this season. His 36 carries of 10+ yards tied for sixth in the FBS. If the Vikings want someone who can help in the passing game too, Johnson might be their guy after leading all running backs in the FBS with 46 receptions.

At 5’11” and 200 pounds, Johnson has a sturdy frame to along with outstanding breakaway speed and ability to change directions on a dime. He needs to get better as a blocker if he wants to truly help an NFL passing game, but he can be a difference maker in an NFL offense this year.

Jadarian Price, Notre Dame

While Jeremiyah Love stole much of the spotlight at Notre Dame this past year, Jadarian Price should not be overlooked heading into this draft. In an offense that had a top Heisman candidate in Love, Price still managed to get 120 carries in 2024 and 113 carries in 2025.

There’s a reason for that: Price is a very effective player. Every movement Price makes in the backfield seems effortless and entirely intentional. He has a terrific ability to make cuts in the blink of an eye, leaving defenses with virtually no time to react, or he’ll be gone.

That being said, there are some questions that could impact his placement in the draft. We’ve never seen him be a lead running back at the collegiate level, which is a very unique position for a player who is widely considered to be a Day 2 selection. He could also have some trouble staying on the field on third downs, particularly in passing situations. He only caught 15 passes over the course of his three years at Notre Dame. There were also some fumble concerns this year with three of them all near the goal line.

Kaytron Allen, Penn State

Like Coleman, Kaytron Allen has a very sturdy frame that keeps his legs churning through defenders. Of his 1303 rushing yards this season, 792 of them came after contact. That was the 16th-most in all of the FBS this past year.

Allen (5’11”, 229 pounds) has been a very productive player at Penn State since he arrived in 2022, totaling at least 167 carries in all four of his seasons with the Nittany Lions. He’s proven time and time again that he can be a workhorse, and a very explosive burst allows him to get to the second level of a defense in a hurry.

However, he also lacks that true home run speed like Coleman. However, unlike Coleman, Allen also has struggled as a receiver, which may force him off the field on third down passing situations. In 2025, he caught 18 passes for just 68 yards. That very likely will cause him to fall into the third round this spring.

Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Focus helped with this article.

Josh Frey is a senior writer at both PurplePTSD.com and VikingsTerritory.com, with a fascination for the NFL Draft. To … More about Josh Frey

Former Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was the one who pushed to draft J.J. McCarthy with the 10th overall pick in 2024. However, the quarterback has had two underwhelming campaigns.

Last Friday, the team fired Mensah from his position. Now, according to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert, McCarthy might not be in Minnesota in the long run. He believes that after evaluating the past two years, they might decide to bring in a veteran quarterback to lead the offense.

“The best way to put this, based on what sources have said, is that all bets are off,” Seifert wrote on Friday. “If anything, these events increase the chances that the Vikings will take a big swing at finding a veteran quarterback who could start in 2026. The only thing more damaging than making the mistakes the Vikings made last season would be to repeat them this year.”

Fans on social media shared their reactions to the Vikings potentially moving on from McCarthy.

“He’ll be a part of the package to acquire Burrow,” one fan commented.

“The only thing I hate about this is it took decades for them to try doing it the right way and get a QB on a rookie contract and build around him. This may scare them off from ever doing it again and bing in perpetual middle of the packdom for the rest of my life,” another fan said.

“Are we really going to do the retread QB thing AGAIN? I’m not sure McCarthy is the guy, but my whole life this hasn’t worked,” this fan wrote.

“I don’t mind either way. I think they can get a bridge quarterback, McCarthy will be fine (unless KOC doesn’t believe, then send JJ asap) if they can swing for a home run hitter/ top 5 guy, I’m also down for that,” another fan said.

“This organization has zero patience. McCarthy did not have the season we all wanted him to have, butt he was also 22 years old this year playing under a head coach who didn’t put him in the best spot to succeed until Week 14. KOC wants to be the ‘QB Whisperer’ but doesn’t want to develop one. Got it,” one fan wrote.

“Doing this is repeating their history. Just stop. No one has any guts inside TCO. Should be doing everything they can for JJMC,” this fan commented.

J.J. McCarthy missed out on his entire rookie campaign after suffering a torn meniscus during preseason. They signed Sam Darnold to a one-year deal as a replacement. He led the team to the playoffs, but was not given an extension. Darnold ended up signing with the Seahawks and is currently preparing to take on the Patriots in Super Bowl LX.

On the other hand, J.J. McCarthy returned as the starting quarterback this season. However, he suffered multiple injuries, limiting his playing time. In 10 starts, he recorded 1,632 yards and 11 TDs passing while the Vikings finished with a 9-8 record and no postseason appearance.

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Justin Jefferson refuses to give up on Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy

Despite all the doubts and criticism, Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson continues to have faith in J.J. McCarthy.

On Wednesday’s episode of the “Up & Adams” show, he stated that the main goal of the offseason is to help develop the quarterback to achieve success on the field.

“As of right now, J.J. McCarthy is my quarterback,” Jefferson said. “For me, it’s to get him to where we need to go. It starts off right now in the offseason and get him better now. … J.J’s a really good quarterback. … He’s a great leader, he’s a great motivator.”

Will the Vikings decide to bring in an experienced quarterback to lead the offense this upcoming season?