Michael Carrick scraps Ruben Amorim’s Man Utd ban as two stars benefit | Football | Sport

Michael Carrick’s influence at Manchester United extends beyond the touchline and the training ground. The interim manager has also revised policies governing how his squad utilise their downtime, with Bruno Fernandes and Senne Lammens reaping the benefits. Carrick has occupied the interim manager’s role for just over a month since Ruben Amorim’s exit. He secured wins in his opening four fixtures, although his previous employers West Ham prevented him from claiming a fifth consecutive triumph when they held the Red Devils to a 1-1 draw in east London.

Off the field, Carrick has adopted a more lenient approach regarding player breaks. His predecessor Amorim blocked such absences, even during fixture-free periods, but the landscape has shifted under Carrick’s guidance. An early FA Cup exit has afforded United a 13-day interval between fixtures. Their next outing isn’t until 23rd February, when they face Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium, and that means players have had time to take some time away.

With almost a fortnight between fixtures, Fernandes and Lammens have both taken trips back to their home countries. The Portuguese and the Belgian have reconnected with former colleagues while away from Old Trafford, with plenty of time for them to return before the trip to Merseyside.

Lammens returned to Royal Antwerp at the weekend, a few short months after his £18.2million switch to United. The Belgian side shared photos of the goalkeeper, who braved snowy conditions to take in their weekend game.

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Unfortunately for the 23-year-old, he wasn’t treated to a victory. Antwerp succumbed to a 2-0 defeat against Westerlo, their fourth loss in their previous five league encounters, leaving them 11th in the standings after 25 fixtures.

Almost 2,000 kilometres away, United captain Bruno Fernandes was in Portugal to watch a second-tier match between Pacos de Ferreira and Torreense. The contest proved relatively unremarkable, with struggling Pacos securing a 0-0 stalemate which keeps them in danger of a second relegation in four years.

According to Portuguese media outlets, Fernandes travelled to reconnect with his friend and Pacos midfielder Francisco Ramos. The duo were team-mates for Portugal’s Under-21 squad before their respective journeys diverged, with Ramos spending most of his career in his home country, save for a brief spell in Poland.

“It’s always special. He’s someone close to me and my family,” Ramos is quoted as saying by A Bola. “Furthermore, it’s always special to have a figure like him from our football watching us. It enhances Portuguese football, it enhances Paços de Ferreira, and I’m happy to have him close by.”