• Premier League

Carrick ready to respond to United emergency

Michael Carrick says he is willing to carry on as an emergency centre-back in Manchester United's defensive injury crisis.

The 33-year-old midfielder made his first appearance of the season in the back four as United were beaten 1-0 by Manchester City on Sunday.

He came on after the sending off of Chris Smalling, who will be suspended for Saturday's home game against Crystal Palace, while Marcos Rojo was also stretchered off with a dislocated shoulder. Phil Jones, who has shin splints, and Jonny Evans, who has had an ankle problem, were both already on the sidelines.

Rojo injury doubts

Marcos Rojo was injured on Sunday © PA Photos

• Marcos Rojo's father says his son will "miss two or three matches" after dislocating his shoulder during the Manchester derby - but United reportedly fear the defender could be sidelined for twice as long.
• Rojo was stretchered off during the second-half on Sunday and has returned to Argentina to recover.
• "Luckily, he is fine and at home and it was nothing serious, but he is going to miss two or three matches," Marcos Rojo Senior told local radio station TodoNoticias, before adding that the two Argentina friendlies - against Croatia and Portugal on November 12 and 18 - are out of the question.
• Rojo also suggested on Twitter that the problem was relatively minor but United are said to be awaiting the results of another scan to reveal the full extent of any damage and give a clearer recovery time.

It means United could be without all four senior centre-backs and Carrick, who was occasionally used in defence by Sir Alex Ferguson in previous seasons, said he would slot in if manager Louis van Gaal asked him to.

"It's obviously not somewhere I have played a lot," Carrick said. "Over the years I have had spells there, but I am just whatever needs be. If I need to play there then fine. I have not had enough football recently so I will play anywhere.

Van Gaal began the season operating a 3-5-2 system and Carrick added: "We have different options and different formations. We have a lot of variety. Now we just need to get players fit so we have more options to choose from. I will play anywhere, I don't mind."

Carrick believes United were unfortunate to emerge from back-to-back games against league leaders Chelsea and defending champions Chelsea with a solitary point.

He explained: "We played them both this week and points-wise it suggests probably that we are not [close to them] but we felt we deserved the three points really. It's easy to say that and they would probably say same thing.

"[Against City] we felt we deserved more. But we are experienced enough to know points is what you are judged on. It's alright me coming here and saying we feel good and positive but it's up to us in the weeks ahead before Christmas to have a good push and get ourselves back up there again."

Carrick admitted he is disappointed that United are only 10th, 13 points behind Chelsea, but thinks better times lie ahead in the rest of the season.

He said: "We certainly believe that we are still going to have a good year, a good season, it's just little things that aren't going for us and we are making little errors but overall the feeling is that we are still building to be successful and we will be, it's just frustrating at this minute.

"At this minute with the points total it's not a great start but I think the feeling is better than that really and hopefully we can show that in the weeks to come."

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