Paul Scholes has questioned whether Michael Carrick is fully committed to becoming Manchester United's permanent head coach. The club legend's comments come amid United's worst league start in 40 years, with the team currently 13th in the Premier League after taking just six points from six games, a record of one win, three draws and two losses. Their recent form is a concern, with no wins, two draws and three losses in their last five matches.

Scholes, speaking on The Good, The Bad and The Football podcast, contrasted Carrick's situation with that of Brighton's 33-year-old manager Fabian Hurzeler. "The one thing that someone like Hurzeler has got over Michael is that he's done a body of work in the Premier League," Scholes said. He acknowledged Carrick's personal qualities but pointed to his former teammate's mixed spell at Middlesbrough as a factor.

"Michael did okay in Middlesbrough with what he had," Scholes noted. "I think Middlesbrough were probably expecting more with the budget they had." The former midfielder, who knows Carrick well, hinted at the immense pressure of the Old Trafford hotseat. "There's a bit of me when you look at Michael because I know him; Michael's a nice lad," Scholes added. "Is there a bit of him that's thinking, ‘Get me out of here.

United's dire form has intensified scrutiny on Carrick, who took over in January. The team's recent run includes a 2-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid last Tuesday and a 1-1 home draw with ten-man Tottenham. They have won just one of their opening six league matches, leaving them 12 points behind leaders Manchester City. This poor run extends to a sequence of a draw with Fulham and defeats to Brighton and Manchester City prior to the international break. The team has scored nine goals but conceded the same number this season. Bryan Mbeumo, who scored in the draw with Tottenham, is the team's top scorer this season with three goals.

While Carrick's position is not under immediate threat, other names like Eddie Howe, Antonio Conte and Julian Nagelsmann have been linked with the role.

The immediate focus shifts to Elland Road, where United face a tricky trip to seventh-placed Leeds on Sunday 18 October. The sides played out a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford in August, and another difficult test awaits as Carrick looks to steady the ship.

The report in full is at Tribuna.com