Manchester United are 'expected' to part company with head coach Michael Carrick during the international break, it has been reported.

Carrick's future has been the subject of growing scrutiny for a number of weeks, with United sat in the Premier League relegation zone with eight points from their opening 10 matches. They drew 4-4 with Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Carrick told reporters after the game that he would 'expect' to continue in his role beyond the international break but the club's stance now appears to have changed.

Michael Carrick's Man Utd future now in serious doubt

The Athletic's David Ornstein reports that United are now 'expected' to sack Carrick following discussions among the club's hierarchy, including chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox.

Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann are said to be leading contenders to take over at Old Trafford and both have been extensively linked with the head coach role over recent weeks.

But as per Oddschecker, United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino is now the favourite to take over, having climbed above both Howe and Nagelsmann in the odds over recent hours.

It was reported by talkSPORT earlier on Monday that Pochettino would be interested in moving back to club football with United if the job was offered to him. The Argentine's name has never been far from the front of speculation when it has come to replacing numerous United managers over recent years.

Pochettino was appointed as the USMNT coach in 2024, with a brief to deliver success at the 2026 World Cup that the nation was co-hosting. USA made it to the last 16 stage before losing 4-1 to Belgium in Seattle.

There was surprise in some quarters that, in August, he elected to sign a contract extension to keep him as USWNT head coach until the 2030 World Cup. But it appears that agreement would do little to stop him moving back to the Premier League if the job is offered - and, of course, if he wants to accept it.

What is the new Man Utd head coach walking into?

United's current situation is far from unsalvageable for any new coach, and the club had reportedly backed Carrick to turn things around in the three games before the international break.

The players responded by putting in three encouraging displays going forward, with a 3-2 win over Roma followed by a 4-4 draw against Villa, but United have now conceded 30 goals in all competitions this season - the joint-highest amount of any club in the English top flight, alongside Crystal Palace.

United had collected 13 points from their opening 13 games in the First Division during the 1986/87 campaign before Alex Ferguson's arrival. They eventually finished 12 points above the drop in 11th after the Scot managed to stabilise the club that season.

Any new manager would likely have their sights set far higher than that, given the financial implications that come with United not operating among Europe's elite. In the short-term, the fixture list doesn't get any easier; a trip to Anfield to take on Liverpool would be first on the agenda if a change is made during the international break.

But in three out of the next four games, United take on newly-promoted Coventry and the struggling pair of Newcastle and Crystal Palace - the latter of whom are reportedly considering whether to relieve their under-pressure manager Pierre Sage of his duties after a start to the season which sees them rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table.