Carrick will replace the suspended Paul Scholes, while Rio Ferdinand comes in for Nemanja Vidic, who is also banned.
Reading winger Bobby Convey is back in training following a knee operation but will not be considered.
Striker Dave Kitson is also on the comeback trail, but Reading have no new injury worries.
Man Utd (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Neville, Brown, Ferdinand, Silvestre, Evra, Heinze, Ronaldo, Park, Fletcher, O'Shea, Carrick, Giggs, Richardson, Rooney, Saha, Solskjaer.
Reading (from): Hahnemann, Murty, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Little, Gunnarsson, Sidwell, Harper, Doyle, Lita, Hunt, Bikey, Seol, Long, de la Cruz, Federici.
"We have to be wary of Reading.
"I was not surprised by the way they performed at Chelsea, although I was pleasantly delighted by the result when they drew.
"It reinforced what we will have to do this weekend. I also plan to use some players who aren't regulars in the team to show I have confidence in them."
"We have taken a point off both Manchester United and Chelsea so far and that I suppose is a sign of credibility. And to a certain extent, even though it is only one point it seems like more.
"Now we have picked up a point against Chelsea it is even more of a reason to celebrate the fact that we are going to such a magnificent stadium and try to enjoy it.
"Everybody likes the underdog and that's a great position for us to be in. Both at Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford we are, without doubt, massive, massive underdogs."