United have endured a miserable spell, going eight matches without a victory in all competitions. Their last success came in a 4-0 Champions League triumph over Azerbaijani outfit Sabah in mid-September, with five defeats and three draws following the subsequent Manchester derby loss.

The club's struggles have intensified over the past week, with heavy defeats against Como and Bournemouth leaving them with a combined score of 7-1 across their last two outings. Their overall record during the winless sequence stands at 16 goals conceded and six scored.

Carrick remains in charge, although his position is increasingly precarious as United sit 16th in the Premier League and 20th in the Champions League standings.

Rooney has expressed frustration with what he considers a lack of hunger and commitment from the current squad, pointing to the Bournemouth defeat as another example.

"The players haven't got a leg to stand on," Rooney said on the Stick to United podcast which airs on Disney+. "What's not fair is the performances they are giving.

"I looked at the fans, you could see the pain and anger in their faces when those players are walking around the football pitch. You see [Lisandro] Martinez when [Bournemouth forward] Rayan ran round him, they are not getting to the ball, it's so frustrating.

"We are seeing players who are numb, look like they have got no emotion, look like they don't care. Some of them might care, some good lads who are getting dragged down. It is so frustrating to watch."

He added: "The squad is absolutely a million miles away. The worst thing for Michael Carrick, he has given the board a bit of hope when in reality, they needed a big overhaul and have done for years.

"The midfield, spending that amount on those midfielders, is absolutely crazy. I feel for Michael, he has being let down, he hasn't been good enough, but the players have let him down massively."

Miguel Cardoso defends Lucas Suarez after costly error in Nedbank Cup loss