You might have forgotten that Scott Carson is a Manchester City player, but the 36-year-old will be called upon to save the day on Saturday as the club face a goalkeeping crisis.
As a punishment from FIFA and the Brazilian Football Federation for refusing to release Ederson for international duty, Manchester City will be without their number one keeper for the trip to Leicester this weekend. The same rules also means Gabriel Jesus will be missing.
Usually, this would be a chance for the backup keeper to step up and step in; however, City’s second choice, Zack Steffen, has tested positive for COVID-19 after being away with the US national team.
So, with options one and two unavailable, it’s Plan C for Guardiola who will select Carson to play just his second ever game for the club. The former England international is now in his third season with the Citizens but his place in the squad is clearly defined as third-choice goalkeeper. Last season he played one Premier League game, when the title was already wrapped up.
Having been at the club for almost two years, it was in May this year that Carson made his Man City debut in a 4-3 win away to Newcastle. It was his first Premier League game in a decade after spells in the Championship and the Turkish Super Lig and despite letting in three, he was delighted to be back, and he saved a penalty, too.
Guardiola has praised Carson‘s influence off the pitch and his experience in the dressing room, but now, he needs him to perform on it when it really matters.
