Carrick still believes

Michael Carrick has never gone a season without winning something with Manchester United and he does not want to start now.

The midfielder, who arrived at Old Trafford back in 2006, knows he goes into this weekend with that possibility very much on the cards. Carrick is set to start when Sir Alex Ferguson's team host Swansea City on Sunday, and he will know the size of the challenge they face with leaders Manchester City kicking-off at Newcastle United a couple of hours earlier. A win for Roberto Mancini's team will put one hand on the Premier League trophy, but Carrick is refusing to give in and hopes Alan Pardew's men can do them a favour. Meanwhile Carrick is on the shortlist to lift United's Player of the Year award after another impressive season. But the 30-year-old insists: "It's not about individual recognition for me. All I care about is playing for this club and winning things. I'm happy with my form but I won't be happy if we finish second in the league. "If I'm playing well and winning things then that's great. And if the manager thinks I'm playing well and selects me in the team that's even better. Nothing else matters."