Carrick, who was many pundits' pick to be a high-profile casualty of Fabio Capello's World Cup squad, is in South Africa albeit by the skin of his teeth.
That by no means guarantees a significant involvement in the tournament, but it does give him a platform upon which he can put some shine on an underwhelming 2010.
And United legend and former England international David Sadler believes the World Cup will provide Carrick with the opportunity not only to salvage his England career, but also his Old Trafford one.
The 1968 European Cup winner, who was a late omission from Sir Alf Ramsey's 1970 squad having made the provisional 28 cites Hurst as a classic example of an unlikely hero emerging from the pack.
The former West Ham striker was merely understudy to the great Jimmy Greaves at the start of the tournament in 66, but emerged as the hero when his three Wembley goals fired England to their only ever World Cup victory.
It's hard to imagine Carrick matching that, but Sadler insists the comparison holds true.
Why not? he says. Often the team that starts the tournament doesn't look a lot like the one that ends it.
There are lots of examples of unlikely heroes coming through. It's not always the 11 best individuals that make up a World Cup winning squad. The important thing for Carrick is that he's there.
He's made it into the squad and while if everyone is fit I can't see him getting into the starting line-up, should he get the opportunity, he's got to grab it with both hands.
It could be so important for his career. It's not only England that he's fighting to be involved with, it's also United.
Mark Wright
There have been numerous examples of fringe members of the squad becoming a pivotal part of England's hopes. Mark Wright at Italia 90 was key to the sweeper system that took Bobby Robson's side to within a penalty shoot-out of the final.
In 2002 it was Nicky Butt and Trevor Sinclair who forced their way into Sven-Goran Eriksson's thinking.
While Carrick is essentially seen as an understudy to Gareth Barry, the City player's damaged ankle ligaments could clear the way for his United rival.
Sadler, though, accepts Carrick's club form put him in serious danger of missing out altogether.
By his standards the season didn't end well, said Sadler. The Champions League quarter-final first leg stands out as a disappointing game and one that he won't have been happy with himself.
He seemed to be in and out of the side from then on and it wouldn't be the first time Sir Alex has made his mind up on the strength of a performance like that.
Michael will not have been happy with the way the season went himself, but I don't think his United career is done and dusted by any means.
I'm a big fan and think he has a lot to offer a team. I think he can do it for England if he gets the chance. If he does, I'm sure he won't waste it.
Sadler admits he was particularly pleased to see Carrick avoid the heartache he suffered in 1970 when left out of Ramsey's final squad.
To make matters worse, he learned of his fate from his wife rather than the England manager.
It was devastating to be left out, he said. I'd got injured in the last game of the season, but was part of the 28 anyway. But I knew why I was in the squad.
Basically the only way I was getting in was if one of the senior players struggled with the conditions, the altitude.
Even so, it was very difficult to be told you're not going. It didn't help that there was an incident with Alf Ramsey.
He had decided to reveal the squad to the British press before he told the players, only because he wanted to help them with their deadlines given the time difference between Mexico and England.
Unfortunately one newspaper decided to ring around for reaction from the players' families who were left out.
It meant one reporter ringing my wife. I'd been in contact with her throughout and she knew how hopeful I was of getting in. In the end she had to call me to tell me I wasn't in the squad.
It led to a confrontation with the manager where we let him know how unhappy we were that we had to learn of our fate through our families.
But after we'd cooled down, he explained what had happened. That he was trying to help the British press and that he'd been let down by a newspaper editor.
I could see his side of it, even if it wasn't nice to have to hear the news from my wife.
Sadler's World Cup involvement was unfortunately limited to a mere watching brief. And it remains to be seen if Carrick will fare any better in the tournament.
What do you think? Have your say.
Source: Manchester Evening News
Source: M.E.N.