Manchester United sack Carrick after worst start to Premier League season

Manchester United have sacked head coach Michael Carrick, less than six months after giving him a two-year contract. The club confirmed on Thursday that he had left, following their worst start to a Premier League season.

United are 18th, inside the relegation zone, with one win in 10 league games (five draws, four defeats). Across all competitions they have won three of their 15 matches.

Sunday's 4-4 draw with Aston Villa at Old Trafford was Carrick's last game in charge. United were 2-0 down inside four minutes and 4-2 down early in the second half before they scrambled a point.

They had come back from 2-0 down to beat Roma 3-2 in the Champions League the week before. In its statement, the club said it had reached "the extremely difficult conclusion" that a change was needed to achieve its ambitions.

It called Carrick "a Manchester United legend" and said it would appoint a permanent successor as quickly as possible. Make Fellow Press part of your everyday news experience.

United have not announced an appointment. Sky also understands the Argentine has a £7m release clause in his newly signed contract with the USA, and that talks with the American federation are expected to speed up in the coming days.

Pochettino is likely to stay with the USA for their games against Haiti on Saturday and Wednesday, then start at Old Trafford next Thursday. That would leave him only a few days before United travel to Liverpool on Sunday 22 November.

He would be the club's eighth permanent appointment since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013. Sky reports that Sir Jim Ratcliffe ratified the decision at a meeting in Monaco, after chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox recommended it.

Jonny Evans and Jonathan Woodgate, who were on Carrick's coaching staff, are also expected to leave. How Carrick won the job, then lost it Carrick returned in January as interim head coach after Ruben Amorim was sacked, and the club gave him the job until the end of the season.