Success for United this season would be qualifying for the Champions League after a two-year absence.

If they beat Brentford at Old Trafford on Monday, they will need a maximum of two points from their final four games to seal a top-five slot.

After that, the focus will be on United’s hierarchy to decide whether to appoint Carrick on a full-time basis.

Most supporters feel the transformation since Ruben Amorim’s dismissal means he should be given the job.

The man himself insists he is not demanding answers.

“In terms of deadline, it’s not something I’m really chasing,” he said. “It will become clear when it becomes clear.”

Those who argue against giving Carrick the job permanently tend to cite the appointment of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as evidence.

That view overlooks the fact Solskjaer is the only United boss since Sir Alex Ferguson to deliver successive top-three finishes, had them top of the Premier League a couple of months before he was sacked and also reached a Europa League final in 2021, which was lost because goalkeeper David de Gea missed a penalty in a shootout defeat by Villarreal.

Carrick was part of the Norwegian’s coaching team and the pair remain close, despite ending up competing to replace Amorim.

He dismisses comparisons with Solskjaer as irrelevant.

“I’ve got the utmost respect for him,” said Carrick. “He’s a close friend of mine and I worked closely with him when I was here. We did a lot of good things and came close.

“You can compare all sorts of different situations with managers, coaches and teams over the years.

“But it’s irrelevant really. It really is. That’s not a negative or a positive. It just doesn’t have a link at all. We’re a different team now, irrespective of who’s in charge.

“Comparisons literally don’t make any difference.”