Michael Carrick to lead Man United vs. Chelsea amid uncertain future - sources

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Who will replace Carrick if he's sacked as Manchester United head coach? (2:36)

Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick took training on Tuesday and now expects to be in charge against Chelsea on Saturday, sources have told ESPN, amid continuing uncertainty surrounding his long-term future at Old Trafford.

Carrick arrived at United's training base just before 8 a.m. The first-team playing squad also reported back after being given a day off on Monday.

The 45-year-old led the session, which started at 11 a.m., as United prepare for Chelsea.

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The expectation is that Carrick will be in the dug-out at Stamford Bridge with the opportunity to turn the situation around, sources told ESPN.

It did not go unnoticed by the United front office that Carrick received significant support from United fans during and after the defeat to Bournemouth -- with most of the frustration directed at the players, sources told ESPN.

Players were booed at the final whistle and then fiercely as they followed Carrick down the tunnel on a day when the manager left skipper Bruno Fernandes on the bench.

The 32-year-old, who also arrived at Carrington on Tuesday morning, has been a pale imitation of the player who won end-of-season awards having set a new Premier League assist record, with the frustrated captain questioning the manager's tactics in Como. Carrick claimed the decision to name him among the substitutes on Sunday was a "pure football" decision rather than punishment but the Portugal international did not play a minute.

Fernandes was at Carrington to for pre-planned treatment on Monday and social media users spotted his Instagram account liked a video that had written above it "never push a loyal person to the point where they no longer care."

Carrick was also at Carrington on Monday afternoon to watch United's Under-21s play in a behind closed doors friendly.

CEO Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox arrived earlier in the day to hold talks in the wake of the 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth.

Carrick remains under severe pressure after a run of eight games without a win.

United have won just once in the Premier League this season -- against newly promoted Ipswich at Old Trafford in August -- and sit 16th in the table, one point above the relegation zone.

The visit to Chelsea on Saturday kicks off a difficult run of fixtures for United.

They face back-to-back home games against AS Roma and Aston Villa next week before the November international break.

The first game back after the international fixtures is against Liverpool at Anfield on Nov. 22.

With United making their worst ever start to a Premier League season, winning just one league game since the start of the campaign, Carrick had been expected to lose his job with the club hierarchy exploring potential replacements including Eddie Howe, Julian Nagelsmann and Antonio Conte, sources told ESPN.

Press Association contributed to this report.