According to Sir Alex Ferguson, his former Manchester United manager, Michael Carrick is "the best English player in the game."
Ferguson, who brought Carrick to Old Trafford from Tottenham in 2006 for £18.6 million, the most United had paid for a player at the time, made this claim just over three months ago.
So why, if he is that good, does Carrick have only 33 England caps 14 years after winning his first against Mexico in May 2001 as substitute for David Beckham?