Frank Ilett has racked up more than two million social media followers since pledging in October 2024 to grow his hair until the Red Devils secured five victories in a row.

Erik ten Hag was in charge at the start of a challenge that could end after nearly 500 days if Carrick can continue his winning record since succeeding Ruben Amorim by beating his former club West Ham on Tuesday.

The former midfielder has not been keeping a close eye on the viral stunt but learned about ‘The United Strand’ through his children.

“I can say I’m aware of it, yeah,” Carrick said with a smile. “My kids have made me aware of it, if anything, but it certainly won’t go into the team talk from a professional level.

“I can understand what’s going on with it and it does make me smile but it won’t have an impact ultimately in the end.”

Bruno Fernandes certainly seems unlikely to make any mention to Ilett having given a question about the subject short shrift following the home win over Tottenham.

However, the United captain was much more forthcoming about Carrick – who he was previously coached by and temporarily played under during his brief spell in caretaker charge after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s sacking in late 2021.

Fernandes said Carrick still remembers telling him he could “be a great manager” and says “he is just showing it” in this role for the remainder of the season.

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“I’ve got a really good relationship with him,” the United boss said when those remarks were put to him.

“I understand how much he’s a really intelligent footballer. He’s bright, he cares a lot for this club, so in terms of that side of it we all want the same thing.

“It’s obviously nice when players that you respect – as I do with Bruno, a lot – says good things about you but ultimately it’s about the team, getting the best out of the team and actually that’s all working together.

“So, time will tell. It’s not about judging how good or successful at this moment in time because nothing’s really happened yet. We’ve hopefully got a lot more to do between now and the end of the season and then see what happens after that.”

United head to 18th-placed West Ham as firm favourites but Carrick is not one to get ahead of himself and pointed to the threat of Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.

“They’re very good on transition, very dangerous, got some really good attacking place,” he said ahead of a match Mason Mount, Matthijs de Ligt and Patrick Dorgu remain absent for.

“We’ve looked at them already and kind of have an idea of that, as they would have done for us.

“But they’re a threat and when they get up ahead of steam at home, they’re a dangerous team so definitely (we’ve) got to be ready to cope with all that.”