Don't get me wrong England don't have any great options there, bar Wilshere who is never fit. But given that Carrick is 31, I don't see the point in calling him up when it's probable he won't play in any future major tournaments for England.
I'm a United fan and I've never rated Carrick, he just doesn't do enough for me. He doesn't attack, he doesn't defend, sitting in the centre circle and playing short backwards passes or predictably feeding the ball out wide is all well and good but when he's playing in midfield most of the time with Scholes and/or Giggs who can't get up and down the pitch either it's a waste of time. That's opinion though and I know it isn't one shared by Sir Alex.
I was hoping Hodgson would start using young players now so they have the experience of playing together when the next tournament rolls around. Terry, Gerrard, Lampard, Ashley Cole etc, have failed in enough International Tournaments, they'll be either too old or on the brink of being too old to play in the next tournament so there's no point relying on them any more.