'Carrick is going to be gone by Christmas'

The co-host of the Devil's Advocate podcast, Gaz Drinkwater , believes the "writing is on the wall" for Michael Carrick and that the former Manchester United midfielder will be sacked by Christmas.

After five league matches, United sit 12th in the table on five points - their joint-worst return at this stage of a Premier League season.

A late Matheus Cunha equaliser helped spare Carrick's blushes against Fulham and avoided United going into the long international break on the back of three straight defeats in all competitions.

This run included getting knocked out of the Carabao Cup in embarrassing fashion when they let a two-goal lead slip against Brighton at Old Trafford - plus a home derby defeat by Manchester City.

However, even though Drinkwater believes it would be "reckless" to call time on Carrick's tenure in charge already, he thinks that outcome is inevitable.

"Obviously Michael Carrick hasn't done enough to get sacked," he said. "I'm not saying that. Sacking him now would be trigger-happy, would be reckless and would be silly.

"You have to judge him over at the very least 10 games of the Premier League season.

"The writing is on the wall already. He's going to be gone by Christmas. He's not going to turn this around. He's going to be gone by Christmas, so what's the point in him being here now?

"It doesn't fix anything, by the way. I don't think it's going to be a Ruben Amorim situation where the new guy comes in and he actually does sensible things. I don't necessarily think that's the case this time.

"I was watching it [against Fulham ] and it's like the players don't look very good. The quality isn't there. The passing was ridiculous. Loose touches, horrible football. I hope he turns it around."