Michael Carrick: Man Utd head coach up for Manager of the Season award despite overseeing just 15 Premier League games

Man Utd head coach Michael Carrick is among the contenders for the Premier League Manager of the Season award - after just 15 league matches in charge.

Carrick, who succeeded Ruben Amorim in January, is only in temporary charge at Old Trafford - although the club are ready to open talks over a permanent role.

He joins a six-man shortlist also including Keith Andrews, Mikel Arteta, Pep Guardiola, Andoni Iraola and Regis Le Bris for the top award.

Carrick has impressed since taking over from the Portuguese, winning 10 and drawing three of his 15 matches in charge. Had the season begun when he took over, United would sit just a single point off the top behind would-be leaders Manchester City.

Andrews has defied the odds at Brentford, who were tipped for relegation after losing their head coach, captain and two top scorers last summer to mount a European charge - and instead led them on a charge towards Europe which could yet leave them playing Champions League football next season.

Arteta and Guardiola go into the final two weekends of the season both with the title in their sights at Arsenal and Manchester City, while Bournemouth's outgoing boss Iraola has shaken off a difficult summer at the Vitality Stadium to lead the club on another memorable campaign.

Sunderland are on course to enjoy the best season of any newly promoted club since Sheffield United finished ninth under Chris Wilder in 2019/20.

The nominees have also been announced for the Player of the Season award, with Football Writers' Award winner Bruno Fernandes shortlisted alongside Arsenal trio Gabriel, Declan Rice and David Raya, Manchester City's Antoine Semenyo and Erling Haaland, Nottm Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White and Brentford forward Igor Thiago, the Premier League's second-top goalscorer.

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