Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick insists 'haircut fan' will not form part of team talk as he plots coveted fifth straight win at West Ham

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Michael Carrick has been speaking to the media before Manchester United's visit to West Ham on Tuesday evening, live on TNT Sports and discovery+, and he insists the pressure to record a fifth straight league win for the first time since February 2024 has not intensified because of a supporter refusing to cut his hair until the team reach the milestone.

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Michael Carrick has said the prospect of a supporter cutting his hair for the first time in more than 500 days will not form part of his team talk before Manchester United play West Ham on Tuesday.

It has been two years since United last recorded five consecutive victories, a run that came between January and February 2024 under Erik ten Hag.

That sequence began with an FA Cup win over Newport County and was followed by league victories against Wolves, West Ham, Aston Villa and Luton Town, before Fulham eventually brought the streak to an end.

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Should Carrick mastermind a fifth win on the bounce against West Ham at the London Stadium, live on TNT Sports and discovery+, United fan Frank Ilett - who has amassed more than two million followers on social media by documenting his journey - will finally cut his hair.

Carrick and his side have the chance to finally see Ilett get a trim for the first time since October 2024 when they face The Hammers, but the head coach is solely focused on the job at hand against a side battling to stay in the Premier League.

"I’m aware of it, yes," Carrick said at his press conference on Monday. "If anything, my kids have made me aware of it. But it certainly won’t make its way into the team talk from a professional standpoint.

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"I understand what’s going on and it does make me smile but, ultimately, it won’t have any impact.

"We've got a lot to fight for, so you'd like to think that balances out in some ways and it's who can come out on top at the end of it. But sure, we're totally aware of what we're going into on Tuesday night and how difficult it will be."

Mason Mount will not be fit in time for the trip to London but could return against Everton on Monday, February 23, while Matthijs de Ligt is also expected to come back into contention around the same period following a spell on the sidelines with a back injury,

Carrick believes a run of clean sheets has been crucial to the team's recent progress and praised his players for embracing the demands placed upon them.

"We look like a team that can cause problems, create chances and score goals," he added.

"The key is getting the balance right. There are still areas to improve, and that’s something we’ve focused on - being better collectively when we don’t have the ball."

Four straight victories over Manchester City, Arsenal, Fulham and Tottenham have lifted United into the top four, one point clear of Chelsea in fifth place.

Following the trip to West Ham, Carrick's players will have a 12-day break before returning to action away to Everton's new Hill Dickinson Stadium, a pause created by their early exit from the FA Cup at the hands of Brighton.

"You take confidence and belief from the games you’ve had," Carrick continued. "You go into the next one with a bit more of a feel-good factor.

"The challenge is remembering what's got you there - the hard work, the preparation, and the reality that winning football matches at this level is never easy. You can never assume the next one will take care of itself."

Carrick: Bruno a really intelligent footballer

Heading into the West Ham game, Carrick has been backed by captain Bruno Fernandes to enjoy a stellar managerial career, regardless of whether his caretaker role at Old Trafford is made permanent in the summer.

Fernandes has returned to his preferred No. 10 position since Ruben Amorim was replaced, allowing Kobbie Mainoo to shine once more alongside Casemiro as part of a 4-2-3-1 system.

Carrick reserved special praise for the Portuguese, stating the pair have a "really good relationship".

"I understand how much he's a really intelligent footballer, he's bright, he cares a lot for this club, so in terms of that side of it, we all want the same thing," said Carrick.

"So, it's obviously nice when players that you respect, as I do with Bruno a lot, say good things about you. But ultimately it's about the team, getting the best out of the team and, actually, that's all working together.

"So, time will tell, it's not about judging how good or successful you are at this moment in time because nothing's really happened yet. We've hopefully got a lot more to do between now and the end of the season and see what happens after that."

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