Proof that Michael Carrick is the most important player at Old Trafford

They say numbers never lie

Well, if that's the case, then you can forget [*Lawro voice*] your Wayne Rooneys, your Juan Matas and your Ander Herreras, for Michael Carrick is clearly the man who makes Manchester United tick. The ageing midfielder missed the first two and a half months of the season, but since his return, United have been a very different proposition, rising into the top four and looking odds on to return to the Champions League this season. https://twitter.com/kpsundayworld/status/592619392405495809 Put another way, United have taken 2.3 points from each game in which Carrick made an appearance, compared to just 1.4 when the England midfielder is absent, as he was during yesterday's collapse at Everton and the previous week's defeat by Chelsea. And given Carrick will be 34 by the start of next season, it certainly would be no surprise if Louis van Gaal shells out big money on a central midfielder this summer.