“All large technical firms are facing similar issues, where a large part of the population is eligible to retire,” said Rick Stephens, senior vice-president of human resources at Boeing.

That way, you've always got at least a few deep breaths' time to go back and fix Exactly What You Think About Steve and similar messages.

Hughes's problems also include Stephen Ireland, the club's player of the year, being withdrawn against Arsenal with an ankle injury, although the midfielder has said that he expects to be fit.