Interim Manchester United manager Michael Carrick has dismissed growing calls for him to take the job on a permanent basis, describing the speculation as "only noise," following a crucial 3-1 Premier League victory over Aston Villa. The win prompted club legend Wayne Rooney to publicly endorse his former team-mate for the full-time managerial role at Old Trafford.

Wayne Rooney and Micah Richards shared a hilarious exchange about which actors would play them in a hypothetical Match of the Day film. While the Manchester United legend ambitiously selected Hollywood star Tom Hardy for his own role, Richards couldn't contain his laughter, leading Rooney to jokingly accept a brutal comparison to a notorious Prison Break character instead.

Wayne Rooney has told Manchester United to make Michael Carrick head coach on a permanent basis after his former team-mate oversaw a 3-1 win over Aston Villa on Sunday. Casemiro, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko were all in target as Carrick recorded his seventh victory out of nine matches since succeeding Ruben Amorim until the end of the season.

The drama began when Anthony Gordon was omitted from Newcastle’s starting line-up for their massive Champions League last-16 first leg against Barcelona last Tuesday. Despite the magnitude of the occasion, the winger was only fit enough for a place on the bench, sparking a wave of criticism from high-profile pundits who questioned his commitment and professional conduct on the night, claims to which the Magpies' man has now emphatically responded.

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has launched a staunch defence of Anthony Gordon after the forward faced sharp criticism from several Premier League legends. Despite being sidelined from the starting XI against Barcelona due to illness, Gordon’s decision to occupy a place on the bench was questioned by high-profile pundits. Howe has now moved to clarify the medical reality of the situation while hailing the England international's elite competitive mentality.