There is currently a serious feel-good factor at Manchester United. The best since the 2024 FA Cup final win. The best week-to-week feeling since the 22/23 season, the first under Erik ten Hag. 

With three wins from three under Michael Carrick, United have moved up to fourth place in the Premier League, above the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool. There is great hope that the team will return to UEFA Champions League football next season. 

You'd wonder where to start if asked what has been the most pleasing part of the Carrick era so far. However, many would point to the re-emergence of Kobbie Mainoo into the team. 

With the World Cup on the horizon, many fans were worried that the academy graduate would decide to leave the club this month, in order to get the game time required to get himself back into Thomas Tuchel's plans. 

However, as soon as Carrick took over, Mainoo went straight into the team and has played the full 90 in all three games so far. There is no reason to suggest that he should come out of the team anytime soon, particularly with only one competition to focus on. 

Since the sacking of Ruben Amorim, speculation over the future of the 20-year old have gone very quiet. And now, things might be getting even better. As per the Manchester Evening News, United are to open contract talks with Mainoo, and are hopeful a new long-term deal can be agreed reasonably quickly. 

They state that the plan had always been to offer the player a new contract, and things are now smoother with him back in the starting XI. At the moment, United's number 37 only has a contract until the summer of 2027, so it is little wonder that they are keen to get that extended as soon as possible.

Could you imagine if Amorim were still in charge this summer, with Mainoo only having one year left on his contract? He probably would have departed in January, though only on loan. Then he'd have returned with just 12 months left on his deal, and a manager who refuses to start him. It may well have been over for him at Old Trafford. 

Thank goodness that is now in the past. Now the future of United gets to start week in week out, under a legendary midfielder of the club, whom he will have grown up watching. 

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