Sky Sports must take Roy Keane off Man United matches, writes NATHAN SALT

January 19, 2020, is a date that probably doesn't mean a great deal to a lot of people. It was six years ago and in the context of Manchester United, a lot has happened since.

But on that day in 2020, there was an instalment of Sky Sports’ Super Sunday. Liverpool defeated Manchester United 2-0 at Anfield and Roy Keane was on punditry duty in the studio. You'd be forgiven for assuming Keane delivered one of his trademark withering assessments, with a clever quip or two.

Instead, Keane debated furiously with Jamie Carragher over the former Liverpool defender's view that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s limited managerial CV meant he was not good enough to be Manchester United manager.

‘The season isn’t finished yet!’ Keane said, bristling at Carragher’s suggestion that Solskjaer, who had managed at Molde and Cardiff City, wasn’t and would never be up to the job. ‘Manchester United could still finish fourth and then we might go, “You finished fourth, OK, we’ll give Ole the benefit of the doubt”. The season isn’t over yet, there’s four places available.’

Keane continued, in a social media clip that racked up 2.9million views: ‘We question Ole, he’s not up to it, look at his CV… yet for some reason other managers go to clubs and are given the benefit of the doubt? Sixteen months (in the job for Ole)… give the man a chance!’

Keane brought up Frank Lampard, then six months into the job at Chelsea, as another example of a manager written off due to his CV after he failed to get Derby County promoted to the Premier League. Keane’s verdict: give him time.

But when it comes to Michael Carrick, Keane's opinion is turned on its head. Forget time; he’s just not up to the job and never will be. He ‘failed’ at Middlesbrough and it’s obvious United need better despite dominant wins over two title contenders.

In the immediate aftermath of the 3-2 win over Arsenal on Sunday, Keane was dismissing the prospect of Carrick becoming the permament boss, even if United finish in the top four this season. That was fine for Solskjaer remember, but not for Carrick.

When the message wasn’t getting through to presenter Dave Jones and the rest of the Sky panel, Keane upped the stakes. ‘Two great performances but anyone can win two games,’ Keane said. 'If United win every game until the end of the season, I still wouldn't be giving him the job. I still wouldn't be convinced he's the man for the job. Absolutely not.’

Now, Carrick and this United side are not going to win all 17 of his games in charge, nobody is expecting that. The longest winning run in Premier League history is 18 games, achieved by both Liverpool and Manchester City, while United’s longest winning run in the Premier League is 12. But even if Carrick did achieve history (likely winning the title in the process) it wouldn't be enough, not for Roy.

An element of the online world is that when people forget things, the internet is ready to serve up receipts.

Keane, it appears, simply doesn’t like Carrick. Doesn’t like the fact he took his shirt, No16, and replaced him as a player. Doesn’t like the fact he spent years in the backroom staff after retiring. Doesn’t like the fact he’s in the job now. Doesn’t like the fact his wife had a pop at him on social media.

Digs aimed at Carrick from Keane aren’t new. After United lost a Champions League game to Olympiacos in 2014, Carrick fronted up for the post-match interview.

‘That interview was just like their performance: flat,’ Keane said of Carrick that night. ‘Say a bit more! A bit more urgency in his interview. That just reflected United’s performance tonight: flat, no urgency.’

Fast forward to November 28, 2021, and United drew 1-1 away to Chelsea in what was Carrick’s second game as caretaker boss. ‘I disagree with everything he (Carrick) said in that interview,’ Keane fumed post-match. 'Everything he said.’

On he went: ‘He was sitting in the dugout for the last few months with Ole. The last few years. And he was sitting with (Jose) Mourinho as well. All of a sudden he’s proud of the players this week?’ Then the kicker line: ‘If you want loyalty, then get yourself a dog.’

Keane doesn’t want Carrick to get the job full-time. Gary Neville echoes that sentiment: Carrick should not stay on beyond the end of this season, he feels. Fine.

Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney, who both played with Carrick and, crucially, like him and count him as a friend, are on board with the idea that he could stay on. Personal bias on all sides is clear as day.

The issue is less with Keane wanting another man to take the job - it’s a game of opinions after all and he’s not alone in his take - but his embarrassing, lazy, personal and bitter agenda.

‘He is obviously still raging about how it all ended as a player and the fact he’s never really been involved with the club ever since,’ one United staff member told Daily Mail Sport via text message on Sunday night. ‘Him doubling down now just looks stupid.’

Fourth after 16 months in charge was good enough in the eyes of Keane for Solskjaer - who famously walked out of the dressing room in solidarity with the Irishman during a Sir Alex Ferguson hairdryer. But 17 wins in a row wouldn’t even put Carrick in the conversation for the job?

This is all tiresome, performative nonsense that isn’t informative, entertaining or valuable, no matter how many millions of social media views it generates.

Earlier this month, Keane named Eddie Howe as his pick for the job, a man who has won one trophy in four-and-a-half years at Newcastle, spending around £685million, with a highest league finish of fourth — a position Carrick could match in five months, without spending a penny. Right.

Keane is tying himself in knots like Harry Houdini trying to find ways to avoid giving credit to Carrick. After two games of this latest spell, the Keane schtick has already got old.

Sky Sports are no doubt loving it as views soar and Keane sets the agenda. No doubt they are eager to keep poking the bear for the remainder of the season hoping he will change his mind, making him even more determined not to do so.

While Manchester United don’t have to make a decision on Carrick’s future until the summer, if Sky Sports had any sense they’d make their own decision now — and look elsewhere when it comes to filling out the sofa for the rest of United’s games.