With Eddie Howe being touted as a likely Michael Carrick replacement, we’ve considered his potential Manchester United line-up.

On Tuesday evening, Manchester United were played off the park in a 2-0 defeat away at Atletico Madrid - a result made even worse by Lisandro Martinez’s post-match antics.

On Sunday, they will travel to Elland Road to face rivals Leeds United in a match-up that, should the Red Devils face further humiliation, could spell the end for Carrick, and the dawn of the Howe era.

How will Manchester United line up under Eddie Howe?

After losing his job at Newcastle United this summer, merely a season after ending the Magpies’ 70-year trophy drought, Howe has been linked to the potentially soon-to-be vacant Manchester United job.

On Tuesday, the 48-year-old, whose Premier League miracles also arrived with Bournemouth, reportedly turned down a Champions League side to “wait for the right project,” according to TEAMtalk.

In his final season as Newcastle boss, Howe led the club to a 12th-placed Premier League finish, and an 8-3 (agg.) round of 16 loss to Barcelona in the Champions League knockouts.

In 2024-25, the 48-year-old delivered Carabao Cup success with the Magpies, beating Liverpool 2-1 at Wembley, and secured Champions League football with a fifth-placed Premier League finish.

Manchester United are currently 13th in the Premier League standings with just six points from six matches; the Red Devils were also bounced from the Carabao Cup in September to Brighton.

Should Howe join, the directives would be clear: secure a top-4 Premier League finish, ensure the Red Devils’ return to Champions League football displays progression, and make an FA Cup run.

In net is Senne Lammens, and he isn’t going anywhere. Since joining for an initial fee of just £18 million from Royal Antwerp, the Belgian shot-stopper has proven his worth as a Manchester United mainstay.

In the backline, Howe’s line-up would see two changes, but Martinez’s place is still assured. He aired his grievances toward the club publicly on Tuesday evening, but the Argentine’s grit and honesty is needed in Manchester.

If Martinez isn’t his preference, Howe would know better than to oust a man from the starting line-up that has been praised by Manchester United fans worldwide for ‘speaking the truth’ at the Wanda.

Diogo Dalot will also keep his place, having started four of six Premier League games for Manchester United this term and proving to be a solid starter at right-back.

However, if there was ever a man that could join the Red Devils’ ranks and convince a long-term summer target in Lewis Hall to join, even after the Englishman signed an extension with Newcastle, it’s Howe.

The possibility is small, but it exists. And it wouldn’t exist under any other Manchester United manager. With the owners facing pressure to buy, Hall will, eventually, be Howe’s starting left-back.

As a result, Leny Yoro, who saw red for the Red Devils versus Atletico Madrid, will leave Manchester, amid growing interest from two European giants.

Finally, the Englishman will bring in a new centre-back to support Martinez in Murillo, whose talents have begged for a big Premier League move after three strong seasons with Nottingham Forest.

Moving to midfield, new signing Carlos Baleba will, of course, remain, having impressed supporters even on a dismal Champions League evening for Manchester United on Tuesday.

Club captain and assist record-holder Bruno Fernandes will have to play much worse, for much longer, to ever be tentatively considered for the guillotine, so his Red Devils starting status is also assured.

Finally, youngster Kobbie Mainoo will cement his position as a starter under Howe, after falling out of favour with various Manchester United managers since his 2023-24 breakthrough.

In attack, expect a switch-up. Manchester United will make the Bundesliga swoop they’ve long been rumoured to make, for Serhou Guirassy, and secure themselves an additional 30 goals each season.

Finally, as the fourth and final change to Manchester United’s line-up, Howe will bring in blossoming talent Bazoumana Toure, after what appears likely to be a strong debut season in Newcastle.

Obviously, it is still unclear as to whether Carrick will actually go, but one thing is certain: humiliation against Leeds will put the Englishman’s job at severe risk.

If torrid results continue, there will be change. With improvements in the required areas, and consistency in others, Howe could work further wonders at Manchester United.