Manchester United’s Michael Carrick: ‘I want to stay, of course’

'I've got nowhere else to go' jokes Michael Carrick, hoping to stay at Old Trafford when his contract is up at the end of the season.

Michael Carrick shown training with England, before picking up an injury, on Tuesday as the team prepares for a Euro 2016 qualifier on Saturday against Slovenia. Shaun Botterill / Getty Images / NovemShow more

Michael Carrick, who pulled out of the England squad through injury on Wednesday, has spelled out his desire to sign a new contract at Manchester United.

Carrick pulled out of England’s squad for the double-header against Slovenia and Scotland on Wednesday evening after suffering a groin injury in training.

The 33-year-old will start his rehabilitation at Carrington later this week and Louis van Gaal will hope to have the midfielder fully fit by the time his Manchester United team take on Arsenal a week on Sunday.

Carrick has only played twice for Van Gaal because of an ankle injury he suffered just before the Dutchman took over.

But he is more than happy with life under the former Ajax coach and he is keen to extend his contract, which expires next summer.

“My contract is up at the end of the season. I want to stay, of course. I’ve got nowhere else to go,” said Carrick, who has been at Old Trafford for eight years.

The club are yet to begin discussions with Carrick, but the former Tottenham midfielder is not concerned.

“They (talks) have not really (begun) not yet,” Carrick said.

“But I haven’t expected (them to begin) to be honest, with the injury.

“It will probably (happen) around Christmas or after that.”

Carrick suffered an ankle injury just before Van Gaal flew into Manchester after guiding the Netherlands to third place in the World Cup.

“It was literally his first day in the office when I went for my operation, so that was shocking timing really,” said Carrick, who missed United’s entire pre-season tour as a result of the injury.

“But he was great with me straight away, the boss.

“He has been great, and his staff. They have been really supportive from the first day and I have a lot to thank them for because he had a lot on his plate coming in.

“He took his time to make sure I was all right and getting on the right track.”

Just as Carrick looked to be getting his England career back on track, he suffered what the Football Association (FA) described as a “minor groin injury” in training at St George’s Park and will miss Saturday’s Euro 2016 qualifier against Slovenia and the friendly in Scotland three days later.

Speaking 24 hours before he suffered the injury, which occurred after a very light 20-minute session at England’s base in Burton-upon-Trent, Carrick said Van Gaal had no problem with him reporting for England duty even though he had just returned from the ankle problem.

“He was fine with it,” Carrick said.

“Obviously, he’s come off the back of being Holland manager, so he understands both sides of it.

“He was happy for me to try and get some minutes under my belt.”

The FA confirmed manager Roy Hodgson will not call up a replacement for Carrick.

The England manager could be facing a second withdrawal in the space of 24 hours after it emerged that Andros Townsend is struggling with an ankle injury.

Townsend reported for England duty with a slight ankle injury he suffered with Tottenham.

The winger did not train with the rest of the squad on Wednesday and the England medical staff will assess him on Thursday before deciding whether to send him back to his club.

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