BBC Senior football correspondent Sami Mokbel says Michael Carrick’s impact and record as interim Manchester United boss made him the “only candidate” to be given the permanent role.
United secured their 11th victory in 16 games under Carrick against Nottingham Forest on Sunday and his appointment on a two-year deal, with a one-year extension, is expected from the club imminently.
“Carrick has taken that job in his stride so impressively,” Mokbel told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Football Daily podcast.
“Being Manchester United manager, albeit on a short-term basis until the end of the season, is a mammoth task.
“It’s arguably the biggest club in European football but he’s just taken to it like a duck to water. His press conferences are always on point, the results leading the club to Champions League qualification have been brilliant.
“Let’s face it, under Ruben Amorim finishing in the top five looked far beyond them really. The performances and results were so tepid and mediocre that you feared where they may finish this season.
“What Carrick has done is turn a situation where United were open-minded in regards to where they might look for a new full-time head coach into a situation where he could have been the only candidate. He’s been so impressive that anything other than making him full time manager would have been the wrong decision.
“It’s up to Carrick now to grab the bull by the horns and show everyone next season why United have been correct in showing the faith in him that they have.
“Everything that he’s touched at the moment has turned to gold.”