Carrick wants Treble

Michael Carrick believes Manchester United could regard themselves as "something special" if they manage to complete a Premier League hat-trick this season.

Although Sir Alex Ferguson's men are on FA Cup duty this weekend and face a fifth-round trip to Derby on Sunday, at the back of their minds is the knowledge that on Wednesday they entertain Fulham, when a win would send them five points clear of their only remaining realistic challengers Liverpool.

From there it would take a remarkable turnaround to deprive United of a third successive title for only the second time in their history and Carrick said: "You have got something special if you win three in a row. It would be an amazing achievement and would show what a good team we have been over a consistent period."

He added: "We have done a little bit of the work but there is an awful long way to go yet. This league has already shown there are some unexpected results to be thrown up.

"It would be incredible to do it but we have to earn that right."