“I’m not happy with he amount of points we’ve got so far, for sure, you know,” said Carrick.

“I’m not hiding, there’s no hiding from that. I think it could have been different for a couple of little things here or there, but the reality is the reality, we’ve got to accept it, you know. We need to put things in a direction, in a positive direction quite quickly, that’s pretty plain.”

The ‘little things’ Carrick talks about are the defending for Solanke’s goal, the lack of pressure put on Everton’s Ainsley Maitland-Niles when he smashed another injury-time equaliser at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on 6 September, and the preventable Martinez own goal that nearly gave Fulham victory at Craven Cottage just before the international break.

“We’ve got to be a little bit more streetwise in moments, a little bit more stubborn and a little bit stronger in seeing out certain things,” he added.

“It doesn’t change my belief or the confidence in the players, you know. We’re a really good team and capable of being a really good team, but we’ve obviously got to start getting more points on the board, that’s for sure.”

The problem is with each disappointment, the belief of United being ‘a really good team’ starts to ebb away.

Yet again, a post-match focus centred on how much Carrick’s team ran, even though running for the sake of it has proved to be of little benefit.

“The stats don’t lie when every time the other team runs more than you,” said Sky Sports pundit and former Spurs captain Jamie Redknapp.

“Tottenham ran 5km more than Man United. OK, they had 10 men but that is every game. If you outrun your opposing number, you will win games. I’m not saying they are not trying. It is that physical battle they are losing though.”

Bayern Munich are among a number of clubs keen on Brighton defender Luka Vuskovic, AC Milan are looking at Bournemouth‘s Alex Scott and Liverpool are interested in Barcelona defender Jules Kounde.

Brighton centre-back Luka Vuskovic, 19, is a target for Bayern Munich, with the Croatia international also being monitored by Chelsea and Barcelona. (Teamtalk), external

Bayern Munich have held fresh talks with 16-year-old Manchester United attacking midfielder JJ Gabriel but they have not made him an offer as there is a feeling he is leaning towards a move to Spain, with Barcelona and Real Madrid favourites to sign him. (Sky Sports Germany), external

Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott, 23, is wanted by AC Milan, who remain keen on the England international despite his increasing value. (Tuttomercatoweb – in Italian), external

Porto have increased the release clause in the contract of 20-year-old Brazil forward William Gomes to 100m euros (£85m) amid interest from Liverpool. (A Bola – in Portuguese), external

Liverpool are also interested in Barcelona’s Jules Kounde, with the La Liga side open to offers of £60m for the France full-back. (Fichajes – in Spanish), external

Chelsea remain interested in a move for Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara, 22, after missing out on him in the summer but the Blues will not pay the Ligue 1 club’s 70m euro (£59m) valuation for the Senegal international. (Goal), external

Manchester City made an approach to sign 17-year-old USA forward Mathis Albert from Borussia Dortmund in the summer. (Goal), external