Michael Carrick is already under immense pressure after Manchester United's horrible start to the Premier League season, and the manager desperately needs something to change. With results failing to meet expectations, Carrick could now be looking towards the return of his £70 million summer marquee signing, Carlos Baleba, for inspiration. The midfielder has recovered from his injury and is expected to make his first appearance for United once the international break ends, potentially giving Carrick the midfield boost he desperately needs.
Carrick Needs Baleba to Transform Man Utd's Midfield
Manchester United's struggles have exposed several weaknesses, but the midfield has arguably been one of the biggest concerns. The team has lacked consistency, control and intensity in the middle of the pitch, making Baleba's return particularly significant.
United spent £70 million to bring the Cameroonian midfielder to Old Trafford because they believed he could become an important part of the club's future. Now, Carrick will be hoping that investment can immediately translate into improved performances.
Baleba is not expected to solve every problem at Manchester United on his own. However, his physicality, energy, defensive ability and ability to carry the ball could provide qualities that have been missing from Carrick's midfield.
For a manager fighting to keep his job, having a midfielder capable of changing the dynamic of the team could be priceless.
From Caicedo's Successor to a Disappointing Season
Baleba's reputation did not come from nowhere. During his time at Brighton, he was viewed as a potential successor to Moisés Caicedo, who had established himself as one of the Premier League's most exciting midfielders before his big-money move to Chelsea.
Baleba showed flashes of the qualities that made that comparison understandable. His athleticism, tackling, composure and ability to cover ground made him one of the more intriguing young midfielders in English football.
However, his situation took an unexpected turn after his proposed Manchester United move failed last season. Baleba subsequently endured a disappointing campaign, raising questions about whether he could fulfil the enormous potential he had previously displayed.
United, though, clearly remained convinced that there was a top player waiting to emerge.
The club eventually revisited the deal, bringing Baleba to Old Trafford for £70 million. Now, Carrick will be hoping to get the version of Baleba that was once compared with Caicedo, rather than the player who struggled during a frustrating campaign.
Is Baleba Carrick's Last Secret Weapon?
Based on the evidence from events so far, it is difficult to escape the feeling that Carrick could be heading for the sack by Christmas if Manchester United's results remain more or less the same.
Football can change quickly, however. One major signing finding his best form can sometimes transform an entire team.
That is where Baleba becomes so important.
If the 22-year-old can immediately improve United's midfield, bring greater control to matches and help the team start producing consistent results, Carrick could suddenly have a completely different platform from which to work. A transformed midfield could potentially take United to a whole new level.
Never say never.
Realistically, though, expecting Baleba to single-handedly rescue Carrick's Manchester United career is probably unrealistic. Putting that level of pressure on a 22-year-old is arguably unfair, particularly when the team's problems extend beyond one position.
Yet football management is often about finding unlikely solutions when everything appears to be going wrong.
Baleba Could Decide Carrick's Manchester United Future
Carrick's long-term future at Manchester United may ultimately depend on much more than one player. But Baleba could be the catalyst that changes everything.
The £70 million signing arrives with considerable expectations, and his first performances will be closely watched. If he can rediscover the talent that once made him Brighton's exciting midfield prospect and turn United's midfield into a genuine strength, Carrick could still have a chance to change the narrative.
For Carrick to keep his dream Manchester United job in the long run, Baleba might just be his last secret weapon to survive.