It is just that the Middlesbrough manager has personal experience of the benefits of gaining valuable game-time before returning to a parent club with the wherewithal to make the desired step forward.

As a West Ham trainee the England international, who went on to win 12 trophies in total to become one of the most decorated players in Premier League history, kick-started his professional career with loan spells at both Swindon and Birmingham City. He then returned to the Hammers where he clocked up more than 150 first-team appearances and earned his moves to Tottenham and then Manchester United, where he won the Champions League and the Europa League as well as domestic silverware. It was a career that also produced 34 caps. So when Matthew Hoppe discussed his future with the Middlesbrough manager, it was unsurprising that heading out on a temporary switch was one option.

“It was a mutual agreement,” said the US striker, who joined Hibs in January until the end of the season. “I would go up to him a few times a week to ask what I could do to improve, what I could do to get on the field and he could see I was hungry and didn't want to hold me back in any way so he said if I wanted to stay, I could stay, if I wanted to go, I could go. So, it was a mutual agreement because as a player I want to get out on the field and do everything I can to improve and he was once a player, fairly recently, so he understands everything I went through and I think he appreciates that I want to take these steps to advance my career and develop as a player. I didn't know that [Carrick had been out on loan] but it has been a positive since I have been here and that adds to different experiences I have had in my career so far.”

Matthew Hoppe has scored once for Hibs since joining on loan from Middlesbrough.

And Carrick spoke about the 22 year-old former Schalke and Mallorca man, just last week, proving that he is keeping tabs and it is not a case of out of sight, out of mind. “That is pretty important,” said Hoppe. “It is nice to know that he is still keeping an eye on me. I have to focus on what I’m doing here, though, doing the best I can with this club. But he has been super encouraging. He knows how to get the best out of players.”

Hoppe has scored once in his six appearances so far and is looking to add more as he bolsters his play and reputation, as he tries to force his way back into Carrick’s plans and maintain his place in the US national set-up. Especially with the home-based 2026 World Cup in mind. “The biggest reason behind coming here was the game time,” added Hoppe. “To be able to get minutes here has been amazing and it has allowed me to see aspects of my game that I have to work on. I just need to sharpen those up and maybe get a few more goals and then we will see what happens.

Matthew Hoppe: Hibs' Middlesbrough loanee opens up on Michael Carrick, 'mutual agreement' and scoring more goals