Fernandes set up Bryan Mbeumo for United’s third of the afternoon, his 20th league assist of the season matching Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne’s record, as they hung on for a win that sealed third place.

Carrick then addressed the Old Trafford crowd, saying he hoped there were many more big moments, to come at the end of a week when he is understood to have reached broad agreement on a deal to remain in charge.

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After the match, the 44-year-old said: “Over the coming days there’ll be clarity in the situation. Today what was important was the game and getting the right result, and about some individuals as well.

“Whatever news there is going to be, I’m sure you’ll get it in a few days.”

Luke Shaw fired United ahead and although Morato levelled early in the second half, Matheus Cunha quickly restored United’s advantage with a controversial goal.

Fernandes then set up Mbeumo for a third which proved vital as Morgan Gibbs-White got Forest back into it.

“I think he’s dealt with it really well,” Carrick said of Fernandes’ pursuit of the record. “Watching from the sides you’re thinking ‘What’s going through his head? Is he looking for the pass? Is he looking to score? Is he second-guessing it?’.

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“I think he coped with it fantastically well. It was a really nice moment for everybody and credit to him.”

United announced after the match that full-back Tyrell Malacia would leave the club in the summer after an injury-hit four-year spell.

During the match a supporter near the directors box held up a sign towards United’s minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, criticising his stance on immigration, before having it removed by security.

Forest had fumed over the decision to allow Cunha’s goal to stand. The ball clearly struck Mbeumo’s arm before falling to Cunha but after being sent to the monitor by VAR Matthew Donahue, Michael Salisbury stuck with his decision to allow the goal.

“I’m very proud of my players because we got the points before the last two games,” Vitor Pereira said. “If the game was decided in this way and we needed the points to be safe, it would be a big, big problem!”

Pereira said Salisbury told him “the control with the hand was after the touch on the body” but the Portuguese insisted: “In my opinion, he touched the ball with his hand and the goal comes from the control. If not, they would not have had the chance to shoot and score.

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“This is the doubt we have in the Premier League at the moment about these decisions. We don’t know what is handball or not. (Set-pieces), we don’t know what is a free-kick or not.

“I think it’s important to have a meeting and try to understand the rules, the decisions. In this moment, all managers have doubts about these decisions.”

Following reports Forest could offer Pereira a contract extension after speculation regarding yet another coaching change Pereira, who has a year left on his deal, said: “We’re planning next season together.

“Of course this speculation is normal but I think we did good work together.”