Manchester United are not considering sacking manager Michael Carrick despite a dreadful start to the season, with Eddie Howe and Antonio Conte reportedly among the potential replacements if results do not improve.
Carrick has overseen just one win in six Premier League games, which came against newly-promoted Ipswich Town in the second week of the campaign. United have lost twice and drawn three times, with their latest stalemate taking place over the weekend as they failed to beat winless Tottenham.
The results leave the Red Devils firmly in the bottom half of the table, with Carrick already feeling the pressure. He was appointed in the summer after guiding United back into the Champions League at the end of last season, but the feel-good factor has already evaporated.
Club bosses prepared to stick with Carrick
In spite of United's dreadful start to the new campaign, club bosses are not thinking about giving Carrick his marching orders just yet. They are prepared to stick with the 45-year-old for the time being, according to Fabrizio Romano, with the situation deemed 'under control'.
It is claimed that United's players are still behind Carrick despite their poor form, and there is said to be internal confidence that he can turn things around. However, their upcoming run of games before the November international break could prove crucial, with United chiefs seeking marked improvements.
Howe and Conte touted as replacements
If they eventually decide to pull the trigger on Carrick, they could appoint former Newcastle boss Eddie Howe, who is said to be open to the idea of taking over at Old Trafford. Howe has been out of work since leaving the Magpies in pre-season and is not actively looking for a return to management at this stage.
However, it has been reported that he would be more than happy to cut his break short if United come calling in the not-too-distant future. Other reports have suggested that Antonio Conte could be an option for the Red Devils if Carrick is dismissed over the coming weeks.
Carrick reacts to Tottenham draw
Carrick was quizzed on United's current situation after they surrendered a narrow lead to draw against Tottenham over the weekend. He said: "I don't feel let down, because you can make mistakes. You can make mistakes, things go against you. I've made mistakes in games, and it's not so much letting everyone down.
"We've all got standards, we've all got levels, the players have got levels and standards, and they hold their hands up at times when something goes against them… I care as much as anybody about this place, so sometimes you could say too much because then it overspills. But it's coming from a good place, really, and so I understand it."
