The former Wallsend Boys Club star has seen his future played out in the full glare of the media spotlight

Ah the circus which is Manchester United is the gift which keeps on giving, isn't it? After years of Premier League domination, there's nothing quite like revelling in their annual implosion.

For all Newcastle United's issues this season, a quick glance at a table showing both Man U and Sunderland in the bottom three is enough to warm black-and-white hearts, even if it is only a temporary respite from worrying about their own side.

It's been 16 years since Sir Alex Ferguson departed Old Trafford after 27 trophy-laden years, but still the Red Devils have never been able to recapture his magic.

Plenty of managers who have had success elsewhere have come and gone with only bruises to show for their Old Trafford experience. David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ruben Amorim . . . the list of casualties borders on impressive.

The latest chapter of failure is set to be brought to an end with Michael Carrick expected to be replaced by Mauricio Pochettino in a bid to somehow galvanise the squad of talented players into a team which can win matches.

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What do we care, you may ask, surely it's a case of 'long may it continue'?

Too right, but for one nagging issue with the current calamity.

Carrick is, after all, one of us. He's a Geordie who came through the Wallsend Boys Club talent machine to star on the national and international stage for England, West Ham, Tottenham and, of course, Manchester United themselves.

Throughout this sorry affair he has conducted himself with a diginity and professionalism that should make many others within the club think twice about their own conduct.

Managers come and go in football, it's part of the job and he will no doubt receive a hansome pay off if and when the axe falls.

But there has been no need for him to endure the public debate over who will replace them that he has had to suffer in the last two weeks. We all knew of the meeting in Monaco which decided his fate, which feels like the final insult.

Yes, we love to see Man United flounder, but it feels a little less glorious when it's a son of Tyneside who is the latest victim.

He will bounce back. The work he did at Middlesbrough and last season at Man United should ensure he gets another decent job when he wants it.

Who knows, perhaps he's better off being out of the soap opera which is Manchester United, even if we are all tuning in, eagerly awaiting the next catapstrophe.