We'll keep pushing - Carrick

Michael Carrick has confirmed Manchester United have no intention of taking their foot off the gas despite their ongoing injury crisis.

The Red Devils made light of having 14 senior players missing on Tuesday night when they defeated Wolfsburg to ensure a top seeding in next week's Champions League knock-out stage draw.

Now they must turn their attentions to tomorrow evening's Premier League showdown with Aston Villa, knowing they must maintain a three-match winning streak and keep the pressure on leaders Chelsea, whose advantage at the top has been whittled down to two points.

And Carrick, who is likely to start in central defence alongside Nemanja Vidic, feels now is the time for United to push on.

"We won't take our foot off the pedal now," said the 28-year-old.

"We are starting to play well now and we are scoring some goals so we want that to continue.

"There is an awful long way to go and we are not getting carried away.

"But we have been there before and know what is required. Now it is about doing the business."

In addition to Vidic, Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov and Ryan Giggs should all be available to reinforce Ferguson's squad, even if defensive problems remain so acute Sol Campbell has been mentioned as a plausible option to sign during next month's transfer window.

Carrick is also expecting big things of Michael Owen, who took his seasonal tally to seven with his first United hat-trick on Tuesday evening.

"It was a great achievement," said Carrick.

"Scoring a hat-trick away from home in the Champions League doesn't happen so often but it is just what he is all about.

"We always knew he could do it. He has been doing it all his career.

"Hopefully now he can get on a roll and he will continue to score many important goals for us over the next few weeks."

Carrick has just as much reason to be pleased with himself at the moment as, along with Darren Fletcher, he is one of the men asked to rescue United from their defensive nightmare.

First as a makeshift central defender at West Ham, then as a sweeper, Carrick has slotted into the new role with authority.

"I have never headed the ball as much," he laughed.

"It is not the physical side that is hard about playing centre-half, it is the mental.

"You need to maintain concentration and focus at all times. I just put myself in the right positions and hoped for the best."