Michael Carrick forcing Ruben Amorim 'to make change' as Man Utd continue to soar

Michael Carrick has won five of his first six matches since returning to Manchester United - a complete contrast to the form the Reds were in before Ruben Amorim's dismissal

Gary Neville believes that Manchester United's revival under Michael Carrick will force Ruben Amorim to 'make a change' when he steps back into management again. The interim United boss boosted the club's chances of a top-four finish with another win on Monday night as the Red Devils beat Everton.

Amorim, 41, was sacked by United last month following a 1-1 draw at Leeds United and a run of just one win in five matches. He was replaced by Darren Fletcher for a Premier League trip to Burnley and a home FA Cup game against Brighton before Carrick was installed as the club's head coach until the end of the season.

And the impact Carrick has made since his return to Old Trafford has been impressive, with the 44-year-old guiding United to five wins and one draw in his first six matches. United had won four in a row against Manchester City, Arsenal, Fulham and Tottenham up until a 1-1 draw against West Ham snapped that run earlier this month.

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But United bounced back and recorded another win by beating Everton 1-0 at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Monday night. It's a result that has moved them back up to fourth, just three points behind third-place Aston Villa and in a strong position to claim a Champions League spot.

Following his appointment, Carrick ditched Amorim's 3-4-2-1 formation in favour of a more simplistic 4-2-3-1, and has also recalled Kobbie Mainoo from exile under the former head coach.

Carrick has made a number of other changes, including shortening training sessions to make them more intense and tweaking arrival times to 15 minutes later for home and away matches.

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It's a formula that has worked thus far, and ex-United defender Neville believes Carrick's impact will force Amorim to change his ways heading into his next management job. "Obviously, he (Amorim) got a number of things wrong when you look at what is happening now," Neville told Sky Sports post-Everton.

"He did change the system a little bit in a couple of games and it looked like that could be a way forward. But against Wolves, he went back the way and that, for me, felt like the terminal blow for Ruben Amorim.

"Then you look at what happened with Kobbie Mainoo, you look at him playing out there with Casemiro and they look like a very competent pair. Kobbie Mainoo looks like a football player. He looks like he can play the position well, he looks like he can handle the ball, which he can, and he looks like he is back to his best. And that is something that stands out.

"The system of play, the injuries, AFCON, Harry Maguire coming back, the mood of Michael, the composure of Michael, maybe they like what they are seeing on the pitch, there are a number of things. But Ruben Amorim must be sat at home watching Manchester United, I don't think he is a guy that will sit there and think, 'I can't believe this is happening'. He has worked with a lot of these players and the staff.

"But I think he might be sat there thinking, 'what will I do differently in the future when I am in that same position again and I get another job. Maybe I am being a bit too stubborn and not quite making the changes that the players want.'"

During his 14-month spell in charge of United, Amorim won just 24 of his 63 matches across all competitions. The Portuguese had, however, put the Reds in a position to challenge for a Champions League place, but Carrick has since elevated them into the top four and could well keep them there for the rest of the season.

United are next in action when they host Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on Sunday. They then make the trip to Newcastle United before facing Aston Villa in mid-March.

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