Newcastle United still regret failing to sign Manchester United's Geordie midfielder Michael Carrick.
"It was a hell of a loss for Newcastle not to have got Michael into the club as a 12-year-old," admits former Magpies manager Glenn Roeder, who worked with Carrick at West Ham. "He's probably the best player to come out of Newcastle for a generation. You can't put in what God left out: Michael Carrick is a player who was born to be a footballer. That was one that really slipped through.
"I think they saw a tall lad who was skilful, but didn't appear to have pace. He only played either side of the halfway line. But West Ham had a scout up here that took a fancy to him," Roeder added on manutd.com.