Michael Carrick is hoping to rescue his Manchester United career with a big World Cup for England.

The Manchester Evening News says with Rafael van der Vaart, Luka Modric, James Milner and Joe Cole all on Ferguson's radar, it is becoming increasingly likely that Carrick - who won three successive titles in his first three years at the club - could be the one to make way.

The 28-year-old former West Ham and Tottenham star still isn't guaranteed a place in Fabio Capello's World Cup squad.

With Gareth Barry facing a race to be fit for the tournament, it could present Carrick with the chance to put some gloss on a season that petered out disappointingly at club level.

He will be well aware that Nicky Butt's impressive form in the 2002 World Cup saw him earn a starting berth at United the following season.

Carrick will have to hope he can do the same - or at the very least put himself in the shop window for potential suitors.