Carrick Ready To Help United's Cause

Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick feels in great physical condition following the two-week international break and is ready to help the team when called upon.

The Reds have won all six of the games in which the long-serving no.16 has been involved in this season and Carrick hopes to play a similarly successful part in the coming weeks and months.

"Physically I feel fine, I feel really good in all honesty," he said in an interview this week.

"You have to manage yourself a little bit more when you get older and international breaks allow me to stay fresh, but also as fit as possible for the games coming up.

"I haven't played nowhere near as much as I have wanted to play, but I understand the situation. It’s about finishing the season strong and being successful as a squad," the midfielder continued.

"Whatever my contribution is, whether it's big or it's little, then I’m ready to make it."

Carrick's calm demeanour is reminiscent of how Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs carried themselves during the twilight of their careers and it's easy to presume they've been role models for Michael when he says: "I've seen it so many times at this club, how players go about things when they get into their mid-thirties.

"You've just got to judge it as you go along. Physically how do I feel? Am I able to do it? More importantly, do the manager and the club feel I am still able to do it? So there are a lot of things to judge but there's plenty of time for that [to discuss the future]. We're not even at Christmas yet so we've got bags of time."