Manchester United captain Michael Carrick declares himself fit after heart procedure

Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick has revealed his absence from the Red Devils' squad since September was due to his "irregular heart rhythm".

The former Tottenham Hotspur man was an unused substitute in the league clash against Stoke City and Everton, while he remained on the bench in his side's 3-0 win over Basel in the Champions League.

Carrick started in United's 4-1 win over Burton Albion in the third round of the Carabao Cup. He was also an unused substitute in their league win over Southampton. The 36-year-old, who played the full 90 minutes against Burton confirmed he felt "strange" during the second half of the cup clash.

The midfielder stressed that he was "monitored closely" as he continued his recovery. Carrick, who signed a one-year extension in the summer, is now targeting a return to the starting lineup.

"I just want to clear up my situation as I have had quite a few people asking if I'm OK and why I haven't been fit over the last couple of months," Carrick released a statement via Twitter on Friday.

"After feeling strange in the second half of the Burton game in September, I underwent a series of tests. It turned out to be due to an irregular heart rhythm which has been fully investigated and I had a procedure called a Cardiac Ablation.

"I had to build up training steadily while being monitored closely but I feel fine now. I would like to reassure everyone that I'm healthy and back training hard with the team. I'm building up my fitness and aiming to be back in contention for selection soon."

According to the British Heart Foundation, an ablation, also known as a catheter ablation, is a treatment that aims to control or correct certain types of abnormal heart rhythms. ESPN FC reports Carrick has set his sights on returning to the pitch when United host CSKA Moscow in the Champions League clash on 5 December.

Jose Mourinho made Carrick the club captain after Wayne Rooney left Old Trafford and rejoined Everton in the summer. United will play 11 matches before the end of this calendar year. The midfielder returning to full fitness will come as a massive injury boost for the Portuguese tactician ahead of the busy schedule.