Three months ago, Michael Carrick was rounded on by England fans for making himself unavailable for the European Championship. On Wednesday, he was wearing the captain's armband in a friendly win over Italy, speaking positively about his future in the national team and being hailed by some as the answer to England's problems in midfield.
Talk about a change in fortunes. In the absence of rested pair Steven Gerrard and Scott Parker, Carrick brought composure and an impressive range of passing in England's 2-1 victory in Bern, Switzerland.
One of England's major problems at Euro 2012 was its failure to keep hold of the ball - an issue often highlighted over the past decade when compared to the pass-happy midfield units of Spain, the Netherlands and Portugal.
That's something new coach Roy Hodgson is looking to address, so Carrick could find himself called upon when the qualifying for the 2014 World Cup starts next month.
"There is a new regime, a new manager, and things are looking great and I'd like to be part of the World Cup qualification campaign," a revitalized Carrick said Thursday.
Carrick was a dependable regular for Manchester United last season, but his last appearance for England had come in May 2010.
