Norwich City v Middlesbrough: Michael Carrick on his rollercoaster time in charge on the first anniversary of his appointment

It's also probably the one word which best describes Michael Carrick's time on Teesside thus far - with the first anniversary of his stint at the helm coming today.

Last October, the former Manchester United playing legend took over a side who were reeling after an abject start to the 2022-23 campaign, which culminated in the sacking of Chris Wilder.Carrick was entrusted with taking on a team who were hovering just above the drop zone.

It was a season which incredibly ended with the club reaching the play-offs after a renaissance under him that was nothing short of spectacular.

That raised expectations ahead of the current campaign. Cue Boro enduring an awful opening to 2023-24, which saw them take just two points from their first seven matches - which even started to raise one of two questions about Carrick's security of tenure.

Another dramatic twist has seen Boro impressively get back on an even keel by way of six successive wins in all competitions.

They now head to Carrow Road, a venue where the Teessiders' power-surge into the top-six last term received a major catalyst by way of a compelling late win last November.

On his tumultuous time on Teesside which started a year ago today, Carrick commented: "It's flown by and it has gone quick.

"We have gone through a fair bit since I arrived and had some good times and a couple of disappointments.

"That's football. But I have loved every minute of it and loved being here and working with the group and the players who have been at this club.

"Hopefully, there is a lot more to come. We've had some good moments and need to try and create some more of them with good performances and results and that's obviously up to us."

Mixed bag is something that can be applied for Norwich's opening to the current season.

David Wagner's side were among the early pacesetters in August.

But a run of just two wins in their last eight matches has seen the Canaries - beaten twice by Boro last season - fail to maintain that momentum.

Their season was encapsulated in 90 minutes against Leeds on Saturday, when the hosts inexplicably let a 2-0 interval lead slip en route to a 3-2 home reverse.

Carrick added: "I certainly won't judge Norwich on (recent) results. We judge them on how they are capable of doing and how they are actually playing as well.

"It reminds me a little bit like us when we were finding it a little bit more difficult to get results and performances were there largely.

"Watching them over the past few weeks, it's very similar."Boro are down on numbers and will again be without Riley McGree and Darragh Lenihan, with one or two other doubts, including Tommy Smith.Boro are mourning the loss of former defender Bill Gates, who has passed away at the age of 79.

Meanwhile, ex-Boro and Rotherham United defender Darnell Fisher, 29, has announced his retirement due to a knee injury.