Alan Shearer Exclusive: Carrick is no magician but I am fascinated to see what he does at United | OneFootball

Alan Shearer

Shearer is fascinated by the job Carrick will do at Manchester United

It's been another rollercoaster week in the Premier League and Alan Shearer gives us his views on the big stories from the top-flight including Carrick at United, fears for Thomas Frank and why Newcastle need to make a signing or two...

Carrick is not a magician but he is a sensible appointment

I guess Michael Carrick's thinking will be that he has to steady the ship and from a personal point-of-view, he's got a great chance of staking a claim to take the job permanently. He's taken his own staff in there which I think was really important to do. The experience of Steve Holland and he obviously worked with Jonathan Woodgate before at Middlesbrough.

Michael will be wanting to do a good job so he can stake a claim to take it long-term, that's what his motivation will be. Darren Fletcher managed one defeat and a draw so that didn't work but it'll be fascinating to see what Michael does differently to try and get the team up the table. They've got no cup competitions; the only target is to try and get into Europe and that's what he'll try to do.

Man United probably didn't have a choice when it came to hiring another interim manager. They were probably in a situation where, and it bides them time, that Michael's connections will make his appointment go down well with the crowd. It gives Man United a chance to breathe and weigh up the situation to see where they go from now until the end of the season. Getting someone in from now until the end of the season was probably the only choice Man United had.

Michael used to be at the same club as I was, Wallsend Boys Club. I never played with him and never worked with him, but I know him and have done little bits with him. He's very measured. I don't know what happened at Middlesbrough, but I know he tried to play front-foot, attacking football.

It's a sensible appointment for Man United and it'll be really interesting to see what he can do with that team. It's purely going to be a game per week from now. He's got 17 games to get them into Europe.

I think Michael will handle the pressure of the job like he did being a player there. He'll relish it. He's very calm, measured in what he does, and I think he'll be exactly the same as he was on the pitch. Michael isn't a magician, and there's no doubt that some of the players in that team are under-performing and have been for a while. It'll be fascinating to see whether he can get a tune out of them and drag them up the league.

Derby is a big opportunity for Carrick to stamp his authority on United

What a game to walk into and potentially stamp your authority on the club for Michael Carrick. What a start it'd be if Michael could beat Man City at home on Saturday. It doesn't get much tougher. Man City are flying at the minute and are full of confidence, whichever team Pep Guardiola fields. Pep also has some unbelievable options now, I mean, being able to bring on Cherki against Newcastle as well as Rodri is a manager's dream.

Michael couldn't have a tougher start, but you can imagine what it would do to Man United if they were to get the right result.

Adding Antoine Semenyo to the City squad is a big plus for Man City. We saw his ability at Bournemouth, and it was only going to go up another level when he signed for Man City because he's he's obviously playing with better players, in a better team with a world class manager and he's such an exciting talent who gives Man City another option. You've got Doku one side and Semenyo the other with Haaland up front. There aren't many better forward lines than that.

I don't think that stops them giving chances away at the back though. Newcastle had two or three really good chances on Tuesday which they failed to take and got punished for. City do give you chances but you will get punished at the other end if you don't take them.

Football... Only Bettor. Listen to Saturday's preview now.

Viktor Gyokeres has to improve his goal numbers at Arsenal

I think Viktor Gyokeres is a good player and that goal in the week against Chelsea will do his confidence the world of good. There's no doubt he has a great attitude, which I like. He never gives up and is full of running. He hasn't scored as many goals as he or Arsenal will have wanted but I guess they've been impressed with how he's taken to it given the pressure he's under.

Gyokeres won't score as many as he did in Portugal, put it that way. But he does have to improve his numbers with goals. Arsenal didn't pay all that money for him to get seven or eight goals in a season. He has brought a different outlet to the team with his running and energy - and despite not scoring a lot goals, he's giving freedom to other players and perhaps they've shone where he hasn't.

I fear the worst for Thomas Frank if Spurs lose to West Ham

It is a huge game for Spurs and Thomas Frank on Saturday. Their second half performance against Aston Villa was a lot better last week and they have to take that into the game this weekend right from the off. I'd fear the worst for Thomas Frank if West Ham go to Spurs and win.

They have just bought in Conor Gallagher who is a good signing for Spurs with his know-how, experience and energy. It's a really clever signing and I believe other clubs were in for him as well so whatever they've done to nip ahead, it's a good signing. However, they do need more.

Maybe that's part of Gallagher's thinking in coming back to the Premier League at a big club to help his case to get back into the England squad for the World Cup. If he shines between now and the end of the season then I guess the World Cup is in his thoughts, absolutely.

Conor will probably also think that he'll be up against some top-class opposition and that will be very, very difficult to budge the likes of Elliott Anderson, Declan Rice and Adam Wharton.

Gallagher will have to be absolutely magnificent right from the off to budge any of those guys out and whether that can be done or not, I'm not sure.

Newcastle need to make signings in this January transfer window

It's not impossible, but it's very, very, very difficult now for Newcastle in the League Cup. Even going back to the Etihad with a draw would've been hard enough, but going back being 2-0 down is extremely tough and it's highly unlikely that Newcastle will be in the Carabao Cup final this season.

They had their chances. Yoane Wissa had a really great chance early on. Woltemade came on and missed a great chance so when you're presented with these chances and don't take them, you're going to get hurt. Newcastle were fortunate it wasn't three because it should've been but for a stupid VAR decision.

Newcastle need to make signings in January. Another body or two wouldn't go amiss. A bit more energy and life to the team because, they've got an incredibly difficult run coming up after this weekend. After Wolves, I read somewhere that it's something like eight out of nine away games between January and February which is going to be incredibly tough.

I think an injection in the squad definitely wouldn't go amiss.

There is no doubt Newcastle have not seen the best of Wissa yet

I understand what Eddie Howe is trying to do with the new strikers because in that position, all he has is Wissa and Woltemade. Newcastle managed to get through the first few months of just having Woltemade available but that's a bit of a gamble if you're putting one centre-forward out every single week.

It's tough for a centre-forward because you live and breathe for your goals and if you're not getting them and you're not getting that confidence and belief then it is difficult.

There's no doubt we haven't seen the best of Wissa yet and I'd hope there's more goals to come.

I think most of the time Eddie will be reluctant to start both Wissa and Woltemade because his favoured formation is 4-3-3 or 4-5-1 when Newcastle are defending so that narrative doesn't suit.

The situation with Woltemade as well is that he isn't a centre-forward so you're playing with a no.10 in that position, albeit he has scored some goals. I think we're yet to see the best of him and yet to find the balance yet with him in the team. He's very different to the players we had last season, and I know we have to move on from that now but I still think there's an understanding between him and the players about who and what Woltemade is and what he can bring to the team.

Leaving Real Madrid will not affect Xabi Alonso's stock

I wouldn't say I'd like to see Xabi Alonso at Newcastle because Eddie Howe has done an amazing job so I wouldn't be seen to say anything against him. I do think, despite being fired by Real Madrid, I don't think that'll affect his stock at all. There'll be plenty of clubs that will want him.

Everyone understands what a club Real Madrid are and the players that they have. I don't think it'll stop other clubs looking at Xabi Alonso and thinking whoever he goes to will be getting a quality manager. He'll have a lot of options come the summer.