England keeper Carson: I can handle the pressure

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

The goalkeeper will make his competitive international debut at Wembley but does not fear the consequences of making a mistake with so much at stake.

England need a point to reach next summer's finals and head coach Steve McClaren is taking one of his biggest gambles of the qualifying campaign.

But he has lost faith with Robinson after the Tottenham goalkeeper was criticised for several high-profile mistakes and appeared to take it to heart.

For his part, Carson said: "Does the threat of criticism scare me? Not really. You've got to take the good with the bad.

"It's all right everyone talking about you if you do really well but then everyone is going to have a bad game and you've then got to say 'I've done that wrong', and you've got to be big enough to take the criticism."

Carson made his full England debut in the 1-0 friendly win against Austria last Friday and said it was a relief to get the call.

The 22-year-old keeper admitted: "I had been getting banter off the lads, saying I had the record for the most England squad call-ups without winning a cap.

"Now I can give the lads a little bit of banter back. I wasn't bothered I didn't have a lot to do against Austria. I just wanted to play and avoid controversy."

His chances of recording a second clean sheet and staying out of the limelight may depend on how the Wembley pitch plays.

Croatia boss Slaven Bilic believes the game could be a lottery because it is "very slippery, like ice" and sub-standard. He condemned the surface as "no good" but a Wembley spokesman said it would be in the "best possible condition" after getting cut up during an American Football game last month.

However Carson performs tonight it is unlikely to change his immediate future at Aston Villa. The 22-year-old is on a season- long loan from Liverpool and the prospect of the move being made permanent in January has been raised.

He would attract a fee of around £10m and Villa have first option but Spurs have also enquired and Villa boss Martin O'Neill will not be pushed into a decision, saying: "I haven't sat down with Scott yet to talk about any long-term future."