Former England and Manchester United midfielder David Platt has hailed the form last season of Michael Carrick.

Platt said: "Michael Carrick needed to leave and join a big club because it puts bigger demands on you and it is the same with Gareth Barry.

"It's not necessarily the people within the club but just the level you are playing at and what you are playing for.

"I've always said that Michael Carrick was like a Rolls Royce. He needed to put his foot down and have to run to show what it could do - and I'd say the same with Gareth."