Hair we go! One win away from the barber

Frank Ilett’s mop of hair has lasted longer than a Manchester United rebuild, a couple of managers and most people’s New Year’s resolutions.

But after 493 days of unchecked growth, the scissors are finally circling.

The 29-year-old, Oxford-born United diehard who lives in Spain swore back in October 2024 that he would not cut his hair until his troubled team managed five wins in a row. At the time Erik ten Hag was still in charge. Days later, he wasn’t.

What followed was a managerial merry-go-round and a lot of conditioner.

Ruben Amorim came and went without ever stringing more than three victories together – a feat he managed just once. Meanwhile Frank’s locks went viral, helping him rocket past one million followers on Instagram, each update another episode of As the Hair Turns.

Now, thanks to interim boss Michael Carrick, the miracle of basic grooming is within touching distance. The scissors are in sight.

United have rattled off four straight wins -- against Manchester City, Arsenal, Fulham and, most recently, a 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Saturday. Only West Ham and 90 minutes on Tuesday stand between Frank and a long-awaited reunion with a barber.

After beating Spurs, he could barely contain himself.

“This hair is going soon. Four out of five done. This is the first time it’s been four in a row since I started the challenge. This time, it is happening. Thank you so much to Carrick,” he said.

“Carrick is at the wheel, this hair is going soon, West Ham next, four out of five done – this is the first time it’s been four in a row since I started the challenge.

“This time it’s happening! Thank you so much to Carrick – thank you, thank you, thank you.

“There will be a watchalong for the fifth game against West Ham. Some exciting plans coming up – more details to come.”

If United oblige against the relegation-threatened East London side, Frank has promised to donate his flowing tribute act to the Little Princess Trust, the UK charity that provides wigs for children who lose their hair through illness.

Meanwhile, Carrick named an unchanged starting XI from the last-gasp win over Fulham – already more repeat lineups (two) in four matches than Amorim produced in 47 (one). Stability, imagine that.

Goals from Bryan Mbeumo in the 38th minute and Bruno Fernandes with 10 minutes left sealed the win over Spurs, who had Cristian Romero sent off after 29 minutes for a reckless tackle on Casemiro. It was the defender’s sixth red card in all competitions since August 2021 – more than any other Premier League player in that time.

The result ended a six-game league winless run against Tottenham, pushed United to 44 points from 25 games -- four clear of Chelsea in fifth, albeit having played one more -- and left Spurs 14th on 29.

It is also United’s best winning streak since February 2024 under Ten Hag, and eight league games unbeaten, their finest such sequence since Ralf Rangnick managed the same in February 2022.

“The energy is different because we are winning games and when you win games, everything is brighter,” Fernandes told TNT.

“Michael came in with the right idea of giving the players more responsibility and freedom to make decisions on the pitch.

“I was always sure Michael could be a great manager and he is showing that.”

Fernandes also reached 200 goal involvements for United in all competitions -- 104 goals and 96 assists – in his 314th appearance. Only Wayne Rooney got there quicker in the Premier League era, doing it in 295.

So, one more victory and Carrick gets the praise, Fernandes gets the numbers, and Frank finally gets… a haircut.