Manchester United legends reunited to raise a glass to Sir Alex Ferguson on his anniversary of being named manager of the club on Saturday night.

In a decision that ushered in the most successful period in United's history, Ferguson was poached from Scottish club Aberdeen 40 years ago on Friday – with the iconic manager lifting 37 pieces of silverware during his spell at Old Trafford.

He also played a significant role in shaping the careers of a litany of stars who graced the club during his 27-year tenure, with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and David Beckham hugely benefiting from his mentorship.

And a handful of players who shared a dressing room with Ferguson were on hand to toast the iconic manager during a celebratory evening in Manchester on Saturday night.

Diehard United fan and actor James Nesbitt shared a group photo on Instagram, featuring Ferguson alongside current United boss Michael Carrick. 

Nemanja Vidic, Robin van Persie, Darren Fletcher, Jonny Evans, Javier Hernandez and John O'Shea also joined their old mentor at the bash. 

Carrick has namechecked Ferguson as a crucial ally as he looks to transform United's fortunes amid the club's worst ever start to a Premier League season.

The Red Devils dropped into the relegation zone on Saturday night following Nottingham Forest's win over Manchester City, and Carrick's stint in the dugout appeared all but over following a 3-0 thumping by Bournemouth at Old Trafford.

But he was handed a reprieve by the United hierarchy and there were green shoots of optimism following a rousing 3-2 comeback victory over Roma in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

United host Unai Emery's Aston Villa at Old Trafford today, and Carrick has admitted he has been given no guarantees on his future. 

'Whatever is going to happen is going to happen. I'm really looking forward to the next game, playing at home on the back of the other night,' he said.

'The supporters are hopefully looking forward to coming energised and feeling good about what they might see, and we've got to repay that.'

Carrick is preparing for a normal international break, and doesn't have any plans to spend more time with his family after a turbulent period at Old Trafford.

'Not really different to normal. Genuinely not,' he added. 'I think international breaks are always a time to re-energise and freshen up. Some of the players that go away to internationals get freshened up in a different environment, but I don't really need it. I'm fine as I am.

'We'll certainly train next week and maybe have the weekend off. We'll see how that develops, who's left behind, who's with us and what they need.'

Carrick insisted that he and Bruno Fernandes have put any issues behind them after the United captain criticised his tactics in the Champions League defeat to Como last month.

After he led United's fightback against Roma in midweek by converting a twice taken penalty, Fernandes confirmed that Carrick's decision to drop him for the Bournemouth game was due to a loss of form, and disputed that the two men had a clear-the-air meeting over his comments.

But Carrick said: 'There are always conversations, bits going on; acknowledging certain things of when things are going well, what we need to improve on as a group.

'Sometimes it's individually, sometimes it's group. We always have discussions. What's actually said in that discussion, I'll keep that to myself.

'But I think it's pretty clear we've moved in a good direction, and Bruno's commitment is undoubted for me (in terms) of what he brings to this team and this club.

'He showed that again this week by his actions, the way he's played and how he dealt with even retaking the penalty and the frame of mind he was in for that. I think that tells you everything. Bruno's as good as ever.'