Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick believes the club should be aiming for a record-extending 21st English title rather than settling for a Champions League spot.

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A comfortable 3-1 home win over Newcastle on Friday was United’s seventh in eight matches and left them ten points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea with Manchester neighbours City seven ahead.

“We’re continuing to look up and will continue to try to catch them (City and Chelsea),” the midfielder told United’s website ahead of Sunday’s game against Tottenham.

“We’re not satisfied with third. It’s obviously an improvement and we’re getting better but we want to keep looking up.”

After failing to reach Europe’s showpiece tournament last season under David Moyes and then caretaker manager Ryan Giggs, after the Scot was sacked, a top four finish is the minimum target for United.

Carrick’s return from an ankle injury at the start of November sparked United’s surge of form and the Old Trafford giants have dropped just two points since the England international came back.

Former manager Alex Ferguson went as far at to describe the 33-year-old as “the best English player in the game”.

Carrick countered by saying that new manager Louis van Gaal is benefiting from his squad of potent attacking weapons.

On Boxing Day van Gaal fielded an enviable attacking quartet of Wayne Rooney, Radamel Falcao, Juan Mata and Robin van Persie.

“That’s four world-class players you’re talking about there,” Carrick said.

“Going in to a game with those lads in your team gives us a real threat and a lot of confidence knowing we can create chances and score goals. Against Newcastle they clicked nicely and hopefully in the weeks coming up we’ll see something similar.”

“We can improve and we are improving every match. That’s the most important thing,” said the Dutchman.

“It’s a process not for one day, but for a year.”