Manchester United’s recent appointments of Darren Fletcher and Jonny Evans have been mocked by Roy Keane, who has accused Fletcher of asking for Alex Ferguson’s advice on everything, including the socks he wears.

Earlier this week, United confirmed the appointment of Michael Carrick as their head coach on a short-term deal to run until the end of the season.

It was later announced that former United centre-back Evans, ex-Tottenham defender Jonathan Woodgate and Steve Holland – who was England’s assistant manager under Gareth Southgate – would form Carrick’s backroom team.

Carrick’s arrival comes after his former midfield partner Fletcher took charge for two disappointing outings in the wake of Ruben Amorim’s dismissal – a 2-2 Premier League draw with Burnley and a 2-1 defeat to Brighton in the third round of the FA Cup.

That latter defeat ensured this is the first time since 1981-82 that United have exited both domestic cups at the first hurdle, having been stunned by Grimsby Town in the EFL Cup earlier this campaign.

Fletcher reportedly rejected the chance to stay on as part of Carrick’s backroom team and will return to his previous role in charge of the club’s under-18 side.

Evans, meanwhile, is back at Old Trafford barely a month after he left his position as the club’s head of loans and pathways.

And Keane believes neither Evans nor Fletcher earned the chance to be part of United’s setup, accusing the former of being unable to move on from the Ferguson era.

40 – Following their early exits in the League Cup and FA Cup, Manchester United are now guaranteed to play just 40 games in all competitions this season, their fewest since the 1914-15 campaign (39). Brief. pic.twitter.com/bPz9G68GFh

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 12, 2026

In a sensational exchange with Gary Neville on The Overlap, Keane said: “What has Jonny Evans done to be coach of Manchester United’s first team?

“Jonny Evans left Man Utd four or five weeks ago as a loan manager and Fletch gives him a job – strangely enough.

“Fletch has two games, goes, and then Carrick gives him a job… it’s great, isn’t it?

“He left that job four weeks ago, and now he comes back working with the first team. That’s a big step up.

“For the last few weeks, for Burnley away and Brighton at home, Fletch comes in, he knows the club, he worked at the academy.

“He probably knows the girl in the canteen, he rings Ferguson up to ask him what socks he should wear in the morning. How did those two games go?”

Carrick’s first game in interim charge of the Red Devils is at home to their rivals Manchester City on Saturday – he previously oversaw two wins and a draw in a shorter caretaker stint in 2021.