It’s been quite the start to life as Manchester United manager for Michael Carrick. The Red Devils boss silenced any doubters straight away by beating title challengers Manchester City and Arsenal in back-to-back matches, before securing wins against Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur. Hopes of what seemed like an impossible five-in-a-row winning streak just months ago were dashed by a draw against West Ham United, but it’s still a start to be proud of for Carrick.

So much so, the ex-Middlesbrough boss has catapulted himself into the conversation for getting the job on a full-time basis, having only been hired as an interim until the end of the season. He’s brought a sense of calmness to what was a chaotic Old Trafford during Ruben Amorim’s spell, with a feeling that United are in sensible hands until the end of the season at least.

It should come as no surprise, given the level-headed response Carrick gave after being offered the job. Recalling the exact moment in an interview with the BBC, he said: “Yeah it was a nice thing to hear. Of course it was, you know, but I was...