Michael Carrick has conceded that Manchester United's points total is inadequate after the club made their worst start to a Premier League season for 28 years.
A 1-0 defeat to Manchester City on Sunday left United with only 13 points from their first 10 games -- their lowest tally at this stage of a campaign since 1986-87, when Ron Atkinson was sacked and replaced by Sir Alex Ferguson.
While the Red Devils made a slow start under David Moyes last season, they had actually taken four more points from their first 10 matches.
Louis van Gaal's side, who are one of only four teams in the division without an away win, are level on points with Newcastle and West Bromwich Albion and are already 13 points behind league leaders Chelsea.
However, Carrick, who made his return to action from injury as a substitute against City, feels United may be on an upward curve.
"Our points tally is very disappointing because it is nowhere near good enough for us. But at the same time there are signs that we believe things can come good," he told Manchester Evening News. "We have shown some good signs. We are disappointed after today but not disheartened."
Carrick underwent ankle surgery in July and made his first appearance of both the season and under Van Gaal in the 1-0 loss at the Etihad Stadium.
He came off the bench as a centre-back in a new-look partnership with 19-year-old Paddy McNair after Chris Smalling and Marcos Rojo were sent off and stretchered off, respectively.
The 33-year-old added: "Playing myself and young Paddy together at centre-half was a bit of a test in the second half but we dealt with it well. The longer it went I thought we could nick one. It was my first game for six months so it was a bit of a test but I enjoyed it. It was nice to be back. I have certainly missed it."
Wayne Rooney said United were on top for much of the game and was pleased with their response after seeing Smalling sent off.
He told MUTV: "I felt for long periods of the game we were the better team. We took control of the game with 10 men and created the better chances. We were unfortunate not to get anything out of the match and we're disappointed to leave with no points after a great effort."
Smalling was dismissed after collecting two cautions in the space of nine minutes, and Rooney added: "Chris is disappointed. It's tough when you get sent off, especially in a derby and with such a long time to go in the game it made it difficult for the rest of us to hold on. I'm sure Chris will learn from that."