Wright Clashes with Neville Over Carrick's Managerial Future at Old Trafford

Ian Wright has locked horns with Gary Neville over the Manchester United manager question, taking issue with the Red Devils legend's insistence that Michael Carrick shouldn't be handed the permanent gig at Old Trafford.

The 52-year-old was installed as interim head coach following Ruben Amorim's sacking earlier this month, with the club planning to recruit a permanent successor next summer when the transfer market opens up after the World Cup.

Carrick, however, remains very much in the conversation for a long-term appointment, and his early performances have done nothing to damage his candidacy. The caretaker has made a stunning start, dismantling Manchester City 2-0 before dispatching Premier League leaders Arsenal 3-2. His next assignment comes against Fulham this weekend.

With United now sitting fourth—a position that would secure Champions League football next term—Neville nonetheless remains unconvinced about Carrick's suitability for the job permanently.

Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, Neville explained: "Michael shouldn't get the job at the end of the season, in my opinion. And I'm saying this really unemotionally, right? It's nothing to do with what two weeks ago, where to be fair, I agree with Roy, that no one would have mentioned Michael for the job, right? If you're going to earn your stripes and manage one of the biggest clubs in the world and handle the pressure that's going to be thrown at you, I think you have to have that years of experience personally."

Wright, the former Arsenal striker, wasn't having it. "So why did Manchester United give it to Amorim? I'm not having that," he fired back. "If he goes in now and he's proving that he can do it, off the back of this result, what are you talking about? He should get the opportunity to see if he can do it. If you've given it to Amorim."

Perhaps most intriguingly, Roy Keane has performed a remarkable about-turn on the matter. The United legend, who dismissed Carrick's credentials only days earlier, now appears to be backing the interim boss.

"I hope they give it to him. I hope they give it to him in the summer," Keane declared—prompting Neville to attempt calling out the inconsistency. Keane, however, was quick to clarify his thinking.

"I don't think it's the right decision, good luck with it," he said. "Yeah, but, I'm sticking to my guns. I've said my piece, I think that he's got the job, and then if he gets it in the summer then you go; 'Listen, good luck to him', but as a caretaker manager, it's a different animal to being manager of United trying to win league titles over the next two, three, four, five years, whatever it might be.

"I think you can get a better manager than Carrick, absolutely. But I think he's doing a good job, perfect timing for him, and even if he doesn't get the United job, these results a bit like Ruud [Van Nistelrooy], he can get another job, probably another Premiership manager.

"But just cause you're doing well at United, it doesn't mean he'll do well at another club. He's got the players back, it's all been sliding doors moments. Great for him, and he's took advantage of it."