The Story behind Scott Carson’s Return to the Premier League

DBasia.news – The away match against Newcastle United in the 2020-2021 Premier League is not important for Manchester City. However, this match turned out to be a special moment for one of The Citizens’ players, Scott Carson.

The match that took place at St. James Park, Saturday (15/5) in the morning WIB, was just a formality. Manchester City have locked the title, while Newcastle United have also avoided the threat of relegation.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola responded to the condition by rotating players. He rested a number like Kevin De Bruyne, Sergio Aguero, Riyad Mahrez, Fernandinho, to Ederson.

Instead, Guardiola fielded a number of names with minimal playing minutes. Some of them are Nathan Ake, Eric Garcia, and Rodri.

But the most interesting thing is the establishment of Scott Carson in goal to replace Ederson’s role. Even though Guardiola still has Zack Steffen who is the second goalkeeper.

Guardiola might just want to be fair to his players. Before the match against Newcastle, Carson had never played this whole season.

The match against Newcastle even became Carson’s first appearance in the Premier League after a ten year absence. The last appearance of the 35-year-old goalkeeper in the highest caste competition in English football occurred on May 22, 2011 while still playing for West Bromwich Albion.

Surprisingly, this last appearance also occurred in the match against Newcastle at St, James Park. An unusual coincidence.

Naturally, Carson welcomed this moment emotionally. He did not deny that his dream to return to the Premier League had come true.

“The goalkeeping coach told me yesterday, so I’m obviously happy. I thought my days in the Premier League were over but fortunately I never gave up and I had a chance, “Carson told Sky Sports.

“I was surprised but since I was here I was just trying to work as hard as I could and be ready if needed. Luckily the manager has seen him and given me the opportunity to play.”

Carson was brought in by Manchester City from Derby County in the summer of 2019. However, he was only introduced in the match against Newcastle.

Carson admitted that he could have been given the opportunity to appear at the end of last season. But Ederson’s condition, who is competing fiercely for the golden glove trophy in the Premier League, makes him have to be patient.

Carson’s Career Footprint

Carson is a product of the Leeds United academy. He was predicted to be the future goalkeeper of the England national team after being brought to Liverpool in 2005.

However, a less convincing appearance made Liverpool loan him out to a number of clubs. Carson had to switch clubs from Charlton Athletic, Aston Villa, to being permanently sold to West Brom in the summer of 2008.

Even so, Carson had received a call to strengthen the England national team. He made his debut in November 2007 and has four caps so far.

Ironically, Carson left a dark record in the national team. He became one of the actors that caused the failure of The Three Lions to fail to advance to the 2008 European Cup finals after making a blunder in the match against Croatia.

At the end of the 2010-2011 season, Carson made a bold decision to pursue a career abroad. He left West Brom to accept the proposal of the Turkish club, Bursaspor.

But the decision seemed to make him disappear from circulation. Carson struggled to attract Premier League clubs again when he decided to return two years later.

In the 2013-2014 season, Carson finally accepted Wigan Athletic’s proposal to compete in the Championship. He then moved to Derby before being withdrawn by Manchester City.