Martin Jol could seek to tempt Michael Carrick back to the capital

 
High praise: Martin Jol is a big fan of Michael Carrick
26 March 2012

Fulham manager Martin Jol goes into tonight’s Premier League clash at Manchester United full of praise for Michael Carrick, fuelling speculation that he will seek to be reunited with the England midfielder when the summer transfer window opens.

It was Jol who gave Carrick his first start for Tottenham following a £2.75million move from West Ham in the summer of 2004.

And this product of the Wallsend Boys Club on North Tyneside where Alan Shearer and Peter Beardsley also honed their talents went on to become a mainstay of Jol sides at White Hart Lane.

Carrick was transferred to Manchester United for £18.6m in 2006. But while he has gone on to make over 250 appearances for Sir Alex Ferguson in all competitions, the 30-year-old has been the target of criticism for what some observers regard as his lack of impact and goals.

Jol will have none of that. “I feel Carrick is better than people give him credit for,” said the former Tottenham manager. “He is an all-round player with specific qualities as well.

“He has vision, he plays it forward all the time, he can make interceptions, he never loses the ball and he can pass it with his right foot and his left foot.

“He has given Manchester United a lot of value for their money over the years.”

Carrick is under contract until 2014 but Jol could seek to tempt him back to the capital as a replacement for his current midfield general, 35-year-old Danny Murphy. The former Liverpool player is expected to be on the Fulham bench tonight after making way for ex-Real Madrid star Mahamadou Diarra for the defeat at home against Swansea 10 days ago.

Jol said after that game: “There was not one player on the day who performed in the way I would like to see. So we need to give a response, hopefully against Manchester United.”

Orlando Sa, Steve Sidwell and Zdenek Grygera remain sidlined by injury.

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