Sticking with Michael Carrick for a moment, the England midfielder has been made vice-captain at Manchester United by manager Louis van Gaal.

Carrick, 33, has returned from an ankle injury to start all six games in United's current winning run.

"I have three captains," said Van Gaal. "You have a sequence: Wayne Rooney is one, Carrick is two, Fletcher three. He brings a lot of experience but also a lot of composure. He can transfer my philosophy on to the pitch."

A wise move by LvG?

Image source, PA

Meanwhile, Michael Carrick, speaking in the Daily Telegraph,, external has sounded an ominous warning that Manchester United are not content with third place in the Premier League table. "I don't want to say we are going to win the league, but certainly at this point, it is what we are aiming to do. We are not just looking to be happy for top three or top four."

There's a good interview with former Premier League and World Cup final referee Howard Webb in the Independent., external He does not think that diving is on the rise in football, but admits that it's an "emotive" subject that is gaining more notoriety. "It's not getting worse from what we see," he said. "There seems to be a bigger negative reaction to it."

Image source, Daily Star

Meanwhile, the Daily Star, external has a large image of Mario Balotelli on the back page of their newspaper. The Italian has vowed not to get into any more trouble after being handed yet another suspension by the Football Association as punishment for his Super Mario post on social media.

Surely Mario saying he'll behave carries as much weight as a two-year-old saying they won't throw a single tantrum all day?

Image source, Mirror

All Saturday mornings are best started with a leaf through the morning papers. So, let's do just that.

Starting with the Mirror,, external they report that Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal is striving for perfection - and that he is not satisfied purely with good results. A subject on which he disagrees with Sir Alex Ferguson.

"When I speak with Sir Alex he says 'no problem, you have won', but for me it's also the performance that's important, because when you perform well you shall win more," said Van Gaal.

As is now usual on a Saturday morning, the BBC Sport website is working in tandem with The Danny Baker Show on BBC Radio 5 live to plumb the murky depths of your footballing memories. The title of this week's abstract is: "Forgetting a piece of sports kit and so having to borrow or improvise."

Have you ever had to rustle up a pair of shin pads from thin air at the eleventh hour? Perhaps you've played in plimsolls in the snow?

Let us know using #bbcfootball, external on Twitter, text us on 8111 (UK only), or drop us a line on the MOTD Facebook, external or Google+ page., external

Image source, Getty Images

So, whether you're recovering from 'mad Friday' or bracing yourself for a last-Saturday-before-Christmas trip to the local shopping centre, we'll bring you every goal, red card and festive blooper from today's footballing action.

Hop aboard, everyone. The football special, external is leaving the station.

This time next week, you will bristle if somebody offers you another turkey-based food product.

You'll go cold at the sight of sprouts, and you'll be sick to the back teeth of chocolates. Especially the coffee ones.

Between now and next Sunday, there will be 2,610 minutes of Premier League football. But will you be sick of that?

No chance. That's what Christmas is for, right?

So in the words of the Wealdstone Raider... you want some football? We'll give it ya!