Man Utd dismiss claims Matheus Cunha will be benched in preparation for World Cup

Cunha has scored nine Premier League goals since joining United last summer -Credit:Zohaib Alam - MUFC/Manchester United via Getty Images

Despite United having already secured UEFA Champions League qualification with games to spare, interim manager Michael Carrick is determined to ensure his team closes out the season on a positive note.

United have yet to lock down a third-place finish, which would be worth approximately £50 ($67.9) million in prize money to the English giants. There is also the matter of Carrick looking to strengthen his case for landing the managerial position on a full-time basis.

Carrick remains the frontrunner, with club executives expected to reach a decision within the next four weeks. Cunha is among several high-profile players to have recently backed the former United midfielder for the full-time role.

Cunha has been nothing short of a revelation in his debut season at United, following his £62.5 ($83.5) million transfer from Wolverhampton Wanderers last summer.

The attacking midfielder has netted nine times in 27 league starts, helping United secure their return to the pinnacle of European football - including decisive goals in victories over Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, and Liverpool.

Since his international debut in 2021, the 26-year-old has accumulated 21 caps and is widely anticipated to feature in Ancelotti's World Cup squad for the tournament in North America, which gets underway in fewer than five weeks, kicking off in Mexico City on June 11. Brazil have been drawn into Group C alongside Morocco, Scotland, and Haiti.