Cup glory bid driving Carrick

MICHAEL Carrick admits Manchester United are desperate for FA Cup glory this season - and reckons teenage striker Marcus Rashford will be around to stay.

United reached their first semi–final in five years after seeing off West Ham in a sixth–round replay at Upton Park on Wednesday. The 2–1 victory was one of their strongest showings of the campaign as goals from Rashford and the impressive Marouane Fellaini were enough to book a Wembley semi–final date with Everton on April 23.

Carrick has yet to win the FA Cup during his career, with the Reds lifting the last of their 11 cups back in 2004.

Defeat at Tottenham last weekend leaves their hopes of a top–four finish in the balance and England international Carrick is therefore targeting an overdue success in the FA Cup.

“I’m desperate to go further in the FA Cup,” he told MUTV. “We haven’t done well enough in this

competition over recent years and we’re well aware of that. We’re desperate to go all the way this time.

“It’s been a season of setbacks and then good results, it’s so frustrating, but we keep trying to get that consistency. This is an opportunity for us now.”

Meawhile, Carrick (34) insists Rashford’s star won’t dwindle away, backing the academy product to build on a promising start to his career.

“It’s incredible,” Carrick said of Rashford’s emergence. “It’s so good to see young lads come in, do well and take their chance. Not in his wildest dreams could he have predicted the last two or three months he’s had.”