Man United academy wonderkid sends clear message as dressing room issue emerges

However, in order to stop the rot and generate momentum, Carrick faces several fundamental problems to resolve. Club captain Bruno Fernandes was seen shaking his head in exasperation as he was withdrawn for Joshua Zirkzee during Wednesday's Champions League loss to Como at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia.

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To get it, it's a simple one-two punch.

The 45-year-old has also revealed that he maintains regular communication with Sir Alex Ferguson and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as he fights to preserve his position. He said: "I speak to both of them quite regularly, to be honest. I'm close to both of them and we do have regular conversations."

That hasn't stopped rumours circulating about potential replacements should the hierarchy at Old Trafford decide to pursue alternative options in the coming weeks - with Eddie Howe and Antonio Conte identified as possible candidates. Carrick's future at the club could hinge entirely on the performance he manages to inspire as the Reds prepare to face Bournemouth.

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Carrick may not be the only one potentially leaving Old Trafford in the near future, given JJ Gabriel's current predicament at the club. The 16-year-old is regarded as one of United's most gifted youth prospects at present, with his precise close control and hunger for goals drawing comparisons to the likes of Lionel Messi.

As a result, a number of clubs have expressed an interest in prising the teenager away from United to assist in his progression towards senior football. Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are believed to be keeping tabs on the talent, with Gabriel also making it clear in September that he hopes to explore opportunities beyond his current club.

While losing Gabriel to another European heavyweight would represent a significant setback, another teenage sensation has surfaced within the ranks at Carrington, one who could potentially go on to surpass even the lofty expectations set by Gabriel's remarkable ceiling.

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This is because Jaume Camacho, 17, is flourishing within Darren Fletcher's U18s setup. The central midfielder netted four goals during Saturday's 6-3 victory over Liverpool U18s, standing head and shoulders above his teammates.

That haul brings his overall tally to four goals and three assists from five appearances this season in the U18 Premier League, and the club's hierarchy will undoubtedly be monitoring the youngster closely to track his development.

Fernandes is not the only player to have recently spoken out publicly about issues within the club, with Lisandro Martinez making headlines earlier this month with a scathing rant directed toward the likes of Jason Wilcox following United's 2-0 Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid.

Such volatility could ultimately signal the beginning of the end for an already embattled Carrick, who must win the confidence of his players if he harbours any hope of retaining his current position.

Should he fail, United have a lengthy shortlist of potential head coaches to consider as a replacement, including Howe, Conte and Julian Nagelsmann amongst others.

Now, unnamed sources close to certain current managerial candidates claim to have knowledge of the full extent of the troubles within the first-team squad. One told the Telegraph: "It's clear they need order and discipline. The dressing room is out of control and that is the first thing to fix."

Another, meanwhile, claimed: "The players talk too much. United is one of the biggest clubs in the world and that has to be respected."