Anything said by Roy Keane about football management needs to be taken with a heavy pinch of salt. The former Manchester United captain was a far better player than he was a head coach despite managing Sunderland to Premier League promotion 20 years ago. That was his only success in management and was followed by a disastrous spell in charge of Ipswich Town, which showed he isn’t exactly an expert when it comes to matters on the touchline.

That said, the Irish legend’s own experiences aren’t the only reason why his latest comments on Michael Carrick are wide of the mark. Speaking after United’s impressive victory over Arsenal on the weekend, he insisted the Red Devils should appoint a higher calibre of manager because Carrick wouldn’t be able to deliver Premier League titles. There’s a lot to unpack there, so let’s start with the obvious.

United are a million miles away from competing for Premier League glory and to suggest otherwise would be delusional. It will be at least a few seasons before they reach that point, meaning it shouldn’t be considered an immediate objective for their next boss.

The other thing is that getting rid of Carrick and appointing a ‘proven winner’ wouldn’t necessarily be a recipe for success, given how badly United are run.

Gary Neville mentioned the likes of Thomas Tuchel and Carlo Ancelotti as potential replacements for Carrick at the end of the season, but their management styles wouldn’t be compatible with how things work at Old Trafford.

United have made it clear that whoever they appoint will fit into the role of head coach, rather than manager, which essentially means they won’t have much autonomy in the grand scheme of things.

It’s hard to imagine Tuchel or Ancelotti settling for that dynamic without having a big hand in areas like player recruitment, and they certainly wouldn’t stand for constant interference from suits in the boardroom.

They are undoubtedly two of the best managers in world football, but United’s restrictive system would prevent them from doing their jobs properly and their talents would be wasted.

EXPRESS SPORT ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page.

By appointing either candidate, United would be risking another Ruben Amorim situation and could eventually find themselves back at square one.

It’s also far too early to write off Carrick as a genuine contender for the permanent job. He isn’t the sexiest name but has made the perfect start to his interim spell and should be considered for the role if he earns it on merit between now and the end of the season.

Carrick seems perfectly happy to serve as a head coach rather than a traditional manager, as expected of him by his superiors, meaning he’d arguably be a better fit given the way United are currently run.

Just imagine if Carrick leads them to a top-three finish in the Premier League, only to be ditched because he isn’t a so-called ‘proven winner’. It would be a foolish decision, leaving the Red Devils with egg on their face when it inevitably turns out to be the wrong call.

However, it’s important that any verdict on Carrick’s future is reached with logic rather than emotion. He shouldn’t be kept on just because of his legendary status at Old Trafford, but if he genuinely earns it, then why not?

Much will depend on what happens between now and the end of the campaign, but one thing is clear: Keane’s advice should be ignored. If he actually thinks United should be competing for the Premier League title next season, I’ve got a bridge to sell him.