Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick and former player Darren Fletcher will be in direct competition this weekend.
Manchester United take on West Bromwich Albion this weekend, which presents a chance for Darren Fletcher to return to his old club.
It will be interesting to see how he plays against United and whether he’s inspired to put in a performance, which dents his old team’s chances of securing a place in the top four by the end of the campaign.
He’s got similar experience and stature to a vital United player in Michael Carrick and the stats create some interesting comparisons between the two of them.
| Position | Team | Goals | Passing Accuracy | Won Tackles Per Game | Interceptions Won Per Game | Duels Won Per Game | Appearances | Mins Played | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Carrick | MF | Man Utd | 1 | 90% | 1.06 | 1.72 | 2.78 | 18 | 1,454 |
| Darren Fletcher | MF | West Brom / Man Utd | 1 | 83% | 0.82 | 1.23 | 2.5 | 22 | 1,354 |
Carrick clearly protects the ball more efficiently based on stats from this season with a higher passing accuracy.
He keeps things simple, whether he’s playing the ball backwards to the defence or whether he’s shifting possession on to a more creative and forward thinking player.
Carrick has also been more effective in terms of tackles and interceptions this season, which suggests that his timing is better.
The current Manchester United man seems to have a better sense of when to launch into a challenge and where to be to cut off the angles and to make those vital interceptions.
Carrick also appears to be stronger in possession, winning a higher number of duels per game, which suggests that if any West Brom player wants to go up against him, they could be left disappointed.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
