Michael Carrick is facing what feels like a make-or-break match as his Manchester United side clash with Bournemouth in the Premier League

Michael Carrick's Manchester United tenure is hanging on by a thread. But Alan Shearer has concerns about Eddie Howe being his potential replacement.

After guiding his side to a third-place Premier League finish last season, Carrick has made a dismal start to this campaign. With seven league matches played, just one win - a 5-2 demolition of newly-promoted Ipswich Town - has been mustered.

Couple this with an early Carabao Cup exit at the hands of Brighton and two defeats in the Champions League to Atletico Madrid then Como and the pressure is well and truly on.

Should his team fall short against the Cherries the writing could be on the wall and talk of who his potential replacement might be has already begun. The Premier League's all-time top goalscorer, Shearer, has had his say, admitting he doesn't wish to see Carrick lose his job.

But the ex-Newcastle United striker claims it wouldn't surprise him if Carrick were to be sacked soon and if former Magpies boss Howe is shortlisted, then he would not be the greatest fit.

Howe left Newcastle in July after five seasons at the helm. He won the Carabao Cup during his time at St James' Park. But Shearer thinks that Howe needs to be given total control at whichever club he ends up at next and United's situation would not suit him.

Shearer told Betfair: "Eddie Howe has also been linked - he wants control of things and in a club that he sees that is his role and his issue. Whether he would get that at Manchester United or not, I don't know.

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"I guess you don't have to be on the inside to think and know what's going on at Manchester United. When you go through Ralf Rangnick and Erik ten Hag, Ruben Amorim, then you talk about the Dan Ashworth situation, you had Dave Brailsford and the compensation they paid Newcastle, then sacked him, their recruitment, arguing with ticket prices...

"There's so much going on there in terms of how it highlights the huge problems they've got. It's there for everyone to see. Everyone's looking at it. It's being played out in the open. You don't need an Erik ten Hag interview to know that there are huge problems at Manchester United.

"Is Antonio Conte the answer? I don't know. My only thing would be this: it's not the coach's fault. There are huge issues at the football club. I don't know how desperate he is for a job.

"I guess looking at who's been in and how many managers and coaches they've hired and fired, I just wonder whether other managers would look at that and think, 'Well, I know how huge you are, but maybe that's not the right job at the right time.'"

On Carrick, he added: "I hope this isn't the end for Michael Carrick at United, but obviously you'd have to be concerned because of the results. I mean, it can't be a coincidence. Manchester United keep going through manager after manager after manager, looking for a solution. The club is awful in terms of the way it is."