Michael Carrick has done more for Man United's academy kids in a week than Ruben Amorim did in over a year... and I saw first-hand what his gesture meant to United's stars of the future, writes NATHAN SALT

People really don’t like it when you point out that Ruben Amorim never left the training ground to watch a single academy match during his 14 months as Manchester United head coach.

You get a flurry of angry responses, pointing out that Amorim routinely watched academy games live. There are pictures of him going to games, they say. It’s a false narrative, they say. Both statements are wildly inaccurate.

Amorim only caught part of one match that took place behind closed doors at Carrington, three pitches down from where he was taking first-team training. Once it ended he walked over to join Jason Wilcox, Darren Fletcher and former academy director Nick Cox, before heading inside.

To extend further grace to Amorim you could explain that he once sent Adelio Candido, a member of his backroom team, to watch United’s Under 21s away at Manchester City in the Premier League 2 play-offs. Emanuel Ferro, then first-team coach, took in one match earlier this season at Old Trafford, against Athletic Bilbao. They were Amorim’s eyes.

So to see Michael Carrick and his entire backroom team make the 14-mile journey across to Leigh Sports Village on Tuesday night to watch the Under 21s in the Premier League International Cup against Sporting Lisbon felt important and noteworthy.

Michael Carrick and his coaches Jonathan Woodgate (left) and Steve Holland (right) take in Manchester United Under 21s' 3-2 win over Sporting Lisbon at Leigh Sports Village

James Scanlon scored a hat-trick and the young forward will have been delighted Carrick was there to see it

Carrick has been preaching about the importance of unity at United - and his actions are backing up his words

It felt important and noteworthy when a freshly appointed Erik ten Hag pitched up at Altrincham’s Moss Lane stadium within hours of landing back from Chisinau, Moldova, to watch the Under 21s in September 2022.

Even Jose Mourinho, under immense pressure after United’s worst start to a season in 26 years, watched United’s academy take on Stoke City at Old Trafford in 2018.

I’ve travelled the country to watch United’s academy sides - I was once at Middlesbrough on a Monday night where not one United official outside of the players and coaches had made the trip, to the point where a player asked me for clips of his goal so he could post it on social media - and know how far away players can feel from the first team.

Many won’t make it, or won’t be good enough to actually go on and take that step. That is only exacerbated when you don’t get the sense first-team staff see your games as important.

Shea Lacey, Jack Fletcher, Tyler Fletcher, Godwill Kukonki and Chido Obi have all featured for the Under 21s and all made the first team's matchday squad under Amorim.

Carrick does not know yet if he will be in situ beyond the end of the season but his presence on Tuesday night, alongside Steve Holland, Jonathan Woodgate, Jonny Evans, Travis Binnion, Fletcher and director of football Wilcox, gave everyone a lift, from the players to the parents.

United ran out 3-2 winners over Sporting, with James Scanlon scoring a hat-trick - imagine how delighted the 19-year-old will be that Carrick was there to see it.

Shea Lacey is among the academy graduates to have featured in the first team this season - it's vital players like him don't feel disconnected from the senior group

Ruben Amorim never travelled beyond Carrington to watch a youth team game during his 14 months as head coach

‘It takes a lot of hard work and humility,’ Carrick told club media when he returned this month, referencing what it takes to make it at United.

‘I'll keep saying it a lot - it takes a lot of hard work, and (being) grounded and understanding that talent and ability is one thing, but it comes back down to the basics and fundamentals of treating people right, respecting people, looking out for each other and fighting for each other.

‘The rest of it comes on top, whether that's tactics, techniques, goal celebrations, whatever that is, it needs to be underpinned by a foundation that we're all in it together and we're fighting for everything we can get.’

Unity. All in it together. That was the message Carrick was preaching and practicing at Leigh and it was received loud and clear.