Louis van Gaal has admitted that Manchester United have a "big problem" when Michael Carrick is unavailable for selection.
United have lost three matches in a row since Carrick picked up a calf problem in last month's victory over Manchester City, and Van Gaal believes that his side are missing the 33-year-old's influence in midfield.
"When you see in our team the holding midfielders - he is a holding midfielder," the Dutchman told reporters. "We don't have so much. When [Daley] Blind and Carrick have been injured, we have a big problem.
"[Carrick] is a player who can read the game, and that is what I am looking for, players who can read the game.
"Not only individually, but also for the team, because the team is more important. All the players can read the game individually, their own role, that is not so difficult."
United travel to Selhurst Park to meet Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Callum Mulvihill
