Carrick no longer in Keane's shadow after triumphant start to United career

Carrick inherited Keane's number 16 shirt and his central midfield berth after joining from Tottenham for £18.6million two years ago, in what was considered a fairly expensive deal for a player who had never appeared in the Champions League and had yet to establish himself in the full England squad.

Sweet 16: Michael Carrick has established himself as a key member of Manchester United's midfield engine room

However, after helping United to successive Premier League titles and their dramatic Champions League triumph over Chelsea last season, the 26-year-old midfielder is confident that he has lived up to the legendary status of the former United captain.

"I didn't feel any weight of expectation," said Carrick in The Mirror.

"People were talking about the No.16 shirt, but to me it's only a shirt and it doesn't make too much difference. You've got to go out there and play your games, so it didn't really make too much difference.

"Roy Keane was a legend and I'll take nothing away from what he achieved. He was one of the true greats, not just of United but football in general.

"But that didn't really affect me. I wouldn't be doing my job if it did.

"If you sign for this club you want to play all the time. Once you sample United, you know what it is all about. It's a special place and I found that out pretty quickly."

Carrick's impressive form in two years at United saw him rewarded with a new four-year deal worth £70,000-a-week towards the end of last season - and he claims those who doubted his ability had never affected him.

"I'm here to do a job and we've won two titles in my time," said Carrick. "It's pleasing for me, but whatever people say I don't really care about it.

"To win the league in my first year was very satisfying and to do it again this year was even better, to prove it wasn't a one-off and that we were good enough to do it again over a long period of time."

Having won three trophies at United, Carrick, 26, believes the current squad are on the brink of greatness and have the ability to dominate at home and abroad for years to come.

"I'd like to think we could," he said. "It's easy to say, but other teams are getting better all the time.

"It's not easy to dominate Europe. But it's good English teams have been consistent in the last couple of years by getting to at least the semi-finals."

Despite his fine form, Carrick has been consistently overlooked by England boss Fabio Capello, who has not included the elegant passer in any of his first three squads.