Michael Carrick admits he will be forever grateful to West Ham United Football Club.

The Wallsend-born midfielder started his career at Upton Park and played 140 times for them, before clinching a move to Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2004.

Now a UEFA Champions League winner and three-time Premier League winner with Manchester United, he will face the Hammers at Old Trafford on Tuesday night.

But whilst Carrick insists he will be forever grateful to his first club for giving him his chance, it will be business as usual as he looks to help his current side to a nineteenth league title this season.

"West Ham gave me my chance," he said. "They took me away from home, taught me a lot of things and guided me through. They gave me a chance in the first team, so I have a lot to thank them for.

“I still have a lot of friends there who I like to see when I go back. But, obviously, when we kick off it is business as usual and I am desperate to get the win."

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