Michael Carrick piles praise on Manchester United team-mate Paul Scholes

Paul Scholes & Michael Carrick: Manchester United's midfield maestros

Michael Carrick considers his Manchester United colleague and Old Trafford legend Paul Scholes to be a football 'genius'.

Scholes may fall into the veteran category, having turned 38 on Friday, but he continues to turn back the clock with his influential displays in the middle of the park.

The former England international was instrumental in United's come-from-behind success at Aston Villa last weekend, a result which helped the Red Devils to top spot in the Premier League table.

Carrick has been fortunate enough to play alongside Scholes for a number of years now and rates a man who has made more than 700 career appearances to be the best he has had the privilege of working with.

He said: "Paul Scholes is a genius. It is fantastic to play with him.

"Whether he realises or not, he has helped me enormously just by watching him and taking things in.

"We all know what he can do. But there are some things you simply cannot teach. You can learn but some of the stuff only he can do."

Landmark

Carrick will reach a notable landmark of his own on Saturday if he figures in United's trip to Norwich, with the former West Ham and Tottenham midfielder poised to take in his 400th career outing.

The 31-year-old added: "It is the first I have heard of that. I suppose I have been playing for a number of years and the games do add up, but it is not something I look for.

"For me, it is more about trophies, what people win and what they can achieve.

"Maybe at the end of my career I can look back and see what I have done. But at the moment, it is just about winning trophies for me."