He may have not played a big role for England or Manchester United recently but Real Madrid star Alonso believes that Carrick is the player who makes everyone tick.

"Gerrard is a great player. He inspires and leads, he is very capable of making players around him raise their game, but he also needs players alongside to bring the best out of him," Alonso told reporters.

"For me, it is important to have players who complement one another. Sometimes the 11 best do not make the best 11," he said.

"The way I understand the game, you also need someone who delivers simple, short passes, even if they seem innocuous at the time. For me that is the sort of player that's been missing from the side.

"The profile of the English player is very direct. Direct football is great but you have to know how to combine that with an understanding of the need to associate with other players, with knowing how to pass and pass and keep the ball, how to change the rhythm of a game as circumstances demand."

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Michael Carrick could be handed a reprieve from England manager Fabio Capello following his performance in the friendly win over Mexico.

The England boss was said to be frustrated at his side's inability to keep possession against their opponents in Monday's 3-1 victory at Wembley, with the Manchester United man in the firing line from a half-time dressing down.

Carrick - who had started the night in the middle of a five-man midfield - was replaced after 62 minutes by Tom Huddlestone, leading to doubts over his place in Capello's final 23-man part for the World Cup finals in South Africa.

But the Italian indicated the 28-year-old still remains a key figure in his plays, with Sunday's friendly against Austria allowing the midfield man another opportunity to impress.

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Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick will put his feelings for former club Tottenham aside when the two clash at the weekend.

The match at Old Trafford will be crucial for both Manchester United 's title ambitions and Tottenham's Champions League hopes. Carrick appreciates that Manchester United have Spurs to thank for beating both Arsenal and Chelsea in recent weeks to keep the title race open.

"It is funny how the fixtures have come together. At the start of the season you could never have predicted the scenario that has unfolded. You are supporting one team one week and playing against them the next. That is the nature of the game."

Carrick moved from Tottenham in a £18.6million deal to arrive at Old Trafford four years ago. The England midfielder is full of praise for the progress that Spurs have made since then.

He said, "Tottenham have been around that fourth spot all season. The squad they have assembled over a number of years is really top class. We are at the business end of the season now and you have to give them credit. They have put in some excellent performances after the disappointment of that FA semi-final defeat by Portsmouth."

Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick draws inspiration from veteran Red Devils trio Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville, and hopes to help the club continue their silverware-winning run as he hopes to replicate their achievements.

The reigning Premier League and League Cup holders have another final to contest at the weekend, as they take on Martin O'Neill's Aston Villa at Wembley Stadium. Should United be successful in the tournament, it would be the first time the club have retained the trophy.

"It would be nice to do and we have got ourselves into a good position," Carrick mused in the Manchester Evening News. "But that is just a by-product of the main aim, which is winning the game and picking up that medal."

He continued: "Your career is not about what you have done over the last few years. It is about the future. That is what is so great about the people at this football club.

"The appetite of people like Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville - and not forgetting the manager - is incredible and it rubs off on everyone else. When I have my feet up in the front room in 10 years' time maybe then I will look back and say we had a good spell. Right now I want that spell to go on as long as possible."

Michael Carrick insists he is capable of holding down a regular role at the heart of England's midfield.

The Three Lions are well stocked in that department; with the Manchester United ace facing tough competition from the likes of Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Gareth Barry, Owen Hargreaves and Jermaine Jenas.

The fierce battle for places has restricted Carrick to just 19 appearances for his country, with the languid playmaker often overlooked when it comes to the crunch. There is no doubt that England is a better side when he plays and typically the betting markets respond favorably when his name is on the teamsheet.

He admits his cap haul is disappointing for a player of his undoubted ability, but the 28-year-old is confident he can add to his tally in the future.

"I totally agree that I should have more caps," Carrick said.

"But I don't really scratch my head. Things haven't worked out with England as much as I would have liked.

"I don't know why. Maybe I've not played well at the right times, or things haven't fallen for me. It's not something I'm focused on.

"What matters now is looking ahead and doing what I can to be successful in the future and trying to be positive."

Michael Carrick last night withdrew from the England squad for this month's 2010 World Cup qualifiers, leaving Fabio Capello one central midfielder light as his players train for the first time today.

The England medical department were informed yesterday that Carrick, 27, had a problem and would not be able to play in Saturday's World Cup qualifier away to Kazakhstan or the match at home to Andorra four days later. It could open the door for Jermaine Jenas; his Spurs team-mate Tom Huddlestone is unavailable after surgery on his knee.

Capello is already without goalkeepers David James and Ben Foster, and Stewart Downing and Aaron Lennon as well as long-term absentee Owen Hargreaves. He is confident that Rio Ferdinand will be fit.

The four England squad members who played in Saturday's FA Cup final – John Terry, Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole and Joleon Lescott – all emerged unscathed from the game.

Capelllo said that the defeat to Barcelona in Wednesday's Champions League final should not affect his Manchester United players.

He said: "I reached three [European Cup] finals and only won one, but you always have to look to the future. You have to forget what happened and move forward. In football we are very lucky; we can win immediately after losing. For these players the next game will be very important for this reason."

Michael Carrick admitted Manchester United were forced to claim victory 'the hard way' as they moved to the brink of the Premier League title.

The Red Devils are now just one point away from equalling Liverpool's record of 18 top-flight crowns after Carrick scored a late winner to secure a 2-1 success away to Wigan.

Carrick drilled home from the edge of the box to put the champagne on ice ahead of Arsenal's trip to Old Trafford on Saturday lunchtime, live on Sky Sports 1 and HD1.

The former West Ham and Spurs midfielder told Sky Sports: "To score a goal as important as that is a great feeling. I had to make up for my miss in the first half. The win was vital tonight.

"Wigan didn't sit back and defend, they came at us and caused us a few problems. They had a number of chances and we rode our luck a bit.

"It's not the first time we've come from behind and we do it the hard way, but it's a good feeling when it happens.

"Carlos coming on and scoring like that got us back in the game and from then on we just wanted to nick the winner and we've done that."

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