text: Suddenly, after close to 14 years of international football and just 33 caps, Michael Carrick is the answer for England. He was very impressive against Italy in a friendly, true; and he has been an important influence on Manchester United’s revival. Yet it would be unfortunate in the extreme if four consecutive England managers had all failed to spot a game-changing wizard in their midst. Here’s the reality. Carrick has made nine competitive starts for England, and the majority have been ordinary at best. He played in the match against Ecuador in the 2006 World Cup, in which England were saved by a David Beckham free-kick, and was then dropped and replaced by the more energetic Owen Hargreaves for the quarter-final with Portugal. Michael Carrick played against Ecuador at the 2006 World Cup but was dropped for the quarter-final . England have won just four competitive matches when Carrick started, including against Poland . Carrick (left) played in the 2-0 defeat by Croatia which went a long way to England missing out on Euro 2008 . Under Steve McClaren he started in the disastrous double header of a 0-0 home draw with Macedonia followed by a 2-0 defeat in Croatia — the results that effectively cost England’s place at the 2008 European Championship. He was also part of unconvincing performances in Poland and, particularly, Montenegro under Roy Hodgson. England have won four competitive games in which Carrick has started — against Ecuador, and then San Marino, Poland and Lithuania, all at home. Ecuador were feisty opponents and Carrick struggled to match their intensity; the same in the second half in Montenegro, when England were overwhelmed and fortunate not to lose. The home draw with Macedonia — more than either defeat to Croatia — was the worst result of McClaren’s reign. Carrick was hailed after an impressive performance for England in their friendly draw with Italy last week . Carrick has also been impressive in Manchester United's midfield under Louis van Gaal this season . So the idea that England managers are fools for consistently preferring Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard is misguided. Carrick had chances throughout his career, and little changed. Equally, in less than one year, between May 30, 2009, and May 9, 2010, Lampard scored more goals for club and country than Carrick has in his entire career. Gerrard took slightly longer — outscoring Carrick in entirety between October 24, 2007 and December 13, 2008. And it wasn’t as if Lampard and Gerrard couldn’t pass or put a tackle in, too. Maybe Carrick has improved with age. Maybe he is the best around right now. He certainly deserves to be judged on his current performances, not his past. Just don’t think that there isn’t a reason why his international career underwhelms. They’re not all idiots, these England managers.
target: Michael Carrick impressed during England's draw with Italy last week .
  But the midfielder has been ordinary in his nine competitive starts .
  England won four of those -  Ecuador, San Marino, Poland and Lithuania .
  England bosses consistently preferred Steven Gerrard or Frank Lampard .