Carrick was supposed to be a short-term solution following the sacking of Ruben Amorim in January, but the former midfielder has led United up the table, with the club now looking one of the more likely contenders to earn Champions League qualification.

The 44-year-old tasted defeat for the first time since taking the reins last week as his side suffered a late loss at Newcastle – but after a run of seven unbeaten games, Carrick is nevertheless acing his audition to become United’s next long-term manager.

Man United have lost just two of their last 37 home league games against Aston Villa (W28 D7), going down 1-0 both times in December 2009 and September 2021.

Following their 2-1 win in December, Aston Villa are looking to complete the league double over Manchester United for the first time since 1954/55.

Scholes, Carrick’s sidekick in midfield for eight years when they were players, was critical in an Instagram post after United’s 2-1 defeat to Newcastle.

“Michael has definitely got something special about him… cos Utd have been crap last four games,” he wrote.

The 27-year-old midfielder had been enjoying his best run with the Red Devils earlier this season having endured a frustrating stop-start time since swapping Stamford Bridge for Old Trafford in 2023.

Mount began Carrick’s first game in charge against Manchester City on January 17 but has since been lied low since with an unspecified issue that the head coach initially indicated would not keep him out for long.

Manchester United host Aston Villa in the Premier League at Old Trafford on Sunday 15 March, with kick-off at 2pm GMT.

Viewers in the UK can watch the game live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Go, with coverage beginning at 1pm. If you’re not a Sky customer, you can grab a NOWTV Day Pass here to watch without a subscription.

Man Utd XI: Lammens, Mazraoui, Yoro, Maguire, Shaw, Casemiro, Mainoo, Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha, Sesko

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Bogarde, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen, Luiz, Onana, Sancho, Rogers, Buendia, Watkins

Villa will be boosted by the return of John McGinn, who came off the bench against Lille after missing 10 matches, and the Scotland international should be fit for the bench again as he manages his comeback from injury.

Boubacar Kamara and Youri Tielemans remain sidelined while Matty Cash is a doubt.

United will be without Matthijs de Ligt and Patrick Dorgu, with Lisandro Martinez also ruled out with a calf injury which has already seen him miss three games. Mason Mount is a doubt but Noussair Mazraoui has won his race to be fit after taking a knock at Newcastle.

A 2-1 loss to 10-man Newcastle blotted Carrick’s copybook and meant his side missed the chance to edge three points clear of Unai Emery’s men, with both tied on 51 points and United only ahead on goal difference.

But United have won all four of their home games during Carrick’s tenure and although Villa won the reverse fixture they have experienced something of a slide in the second half of this season.

But they will be full of confidence after a 1-0 win over Lille in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 clash and bidding to do the double over a resurgent United side.

Hello and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of today’s match between Manchester United and Aston Villa at Old Trafford.

This match is a potentially vital one in the battle for the top five spots, with the two sides starting the day in third and fourth respectively after Chelsea’s defeat against Newcastle yesterday.

We’ll have all the latest build-up, team news and updates right here.