Michael Carrick is set to be handed a new one-year contract to stay at Manchester United by manager Jose Mourinho.

The 35-year-old signed a new deal in the summer, with Mourinho making him his vice-captain, but United’s policy on offering only one-year deals to players over 30 years old means he will be a free agent in the summer.

The start against Arsenal was only his second in the Premier League this season and has been linked with moves to either the MLS in America or back to his native north east with Newcastle United.

Carrick revealed last week that this campaign could be his last at Old Trafford, with the former Tottenham and West Ham midfielder turning 36 in June, but Mourinho is keen to keep him around and believes he is key in bringing the best out of world-record buy Paul Pogba.

“Michael is 35 years old,” Mourinho said. “With such an intense game he was having some cramps in the last period which is normal.

“It is very sad to know that time flies for every one of us. He is such a fantastic player and it is a pity, I always loved him, but instead of being his manager when he was 25 I am his manager when he is 35.