West Cumbrian Scott Carson is set to sign a one-year extension to his contract with record-breaking champions Manchester City.
The former England goalkeeper has only made two appearances for City in the five years he has been there but is regarded as a key member of the dressing room.
From Cleator Moor originally, Carson is third choice keeper at the Etihad behind Ederson and Stefan Ortega but is seen as somebody who can push the pair of them in training.
In the past manager Pep Guardiola has said: “The people maybe don’t know, but he’s a real leader. He says what he believes, he’s got a lot of experience with big teams.
“He’s an incredible person. Everybody loves him so much.
“Players are better off absorbing wisdom from Scott than they are from me. I liken him to an old actor.”
It’s a role that Carson takes seriously and he has said: “I’m the third-choice goalkeeper. I think it’s half of my job role to help the lads if they need anything.
‘The other two lads are playing a lot more games than me and could be called upon at any time so if they want me to do a bit of shooting or crossing I am there to help them.
‘If that means I’m there longer, it’s not a massive thing to do. That’s part of my role to be there to do that.”
Carson’s influence goes beyond working with the pair as he has forged close relationships with Ederson and Ortega, who have both spoken glowingly about him.
Capped four times or England between 2007 and 2011, Carson will be 39 in September and started his football with home town club Cleator Moor Celtic, and briefly Workington Reds, before joining the Leeds United Academy.
He had been capped 29 times by England Under-21’s up to 2007
Carson, originally joined City on loan for the 2019-20 season from Derby County, before he rejoined the following year for another temporary spell.
In January 2005 he left Leeds (3 games} and joined Liverpool (4) for a £750,000 fee and while at Anfield was loaned out to Sheffield Wednesday (9), Charlton (36) and Aston Villa (35).
He then played 110 games for West Bromwich Albion after being sold by Liverpool for £3.5 million before accepting an offer to play in Turkey with Bursaspor where he made 65 appearances.
Back in the UK he joined Wigan Athletic (50) for £700,000 before signing foe Derby County (158) for an undisclosed fee. He was their Player of the Year (2016/17).
He first joined City on loan for the 2019/20 season, and repeated the arrangement a year later but then made his move permanent for the 2021-22 campaign and he has remained at the club ever since.
