Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick has laughed off the praise now coming his way.

At the age of 31, he is having his best season, although he is not a man at home with the hype.

"I probably have improved in certain ways and, for whatever reason, it has attracted attention," he told the Mail on Sunday. "It does make me laugh at times when that's the case, but I suppose that's how the game is. Certain people talk about it, and then certain people believe it … and it snowballs from there.

"I understand how it works. That's the nature of the beast. Positive or negative, it's the same sort of thing. But the manager said it's the best season I've had. He went on record saying it, and he's probably right."