Manchester United travel to AFC Bournemouth tonight looking to cement their spot in the Premier League’s top four.

Michael Carrick is refusing to get carried away over Manchester United’s chances of qualifying for the Champions League. The interim head coach has enjoyed a stellar return to Old Trafford with the Reds sitting third ahead of tonight’s clash with Bournemouth.

If they are victorious, United will move six points clear of Aston Villa in fourth place. Considering they only have to focus on the Premier League, unlike Villa and Liverpool, the Reds would be hugely disappointed not to qualify for the Champions League from this position.

But Carrick is keen to take things one step at a time. “We are just taking it game by game. We have put ourselves in a decent position at the moment,” he told Sky Sports.

Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE – or get involved in our United WhatsApp group by clicking HERE. You can also join our United Facebook page by clicking HERE and don’t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.

“We had a good result last week and coming into the break we want to finish on a high and we will see where that takes us after that. I think the league has thrown up all sorts of results and ups and downs.

“You have got to take it as it comes and tonight is a big enough game to focus on itself.” The Reds enter tonight’s game in high spirits having beaten Aston Villa last time out. They are without Patrick Dorgu, Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt, who are all recovering from injuries.

De Ligt could be out for the remainder of the season having last played in the victory over Crystal Palace in November. Noussair Mazraoui is also missing having been ill in midweek.

Benjamin Sesko scored the winner against Villa on Sunday but he has been named on the bench again as Carrick names an unchanged starting line-up.