Goalkeeper Carson cashes in on Robinson's England misery

The country could take no more and neither could Steve McClaren. 'I made my mind up about the goalkeeping situation well before the players joined up on Saturday evening,' England's head coach claimed yesterday.

Scroll down to read more:

Now it is Scott Carson's turn to join the firing line. He earned his first cap in the 1-0 victory over Austria last Friday and did not even have to make a save. Croatia will see to that statistic.

Carson, 22, on loan at Aston Villa from Liverpool, will be thrust into the limelight this evening when 90,000 people hurriedly click through the turnstiles at Wembley in anticipation of witnessing England's unexpected arrival at the Euro 2008 Finals.

No pressure, then. 'He doesn't suffer from nerves,' revealed Brian Kidd, who was director of development at Leeds when Carson was discovered playing football in Workington.

'Scott has the temperament to be the England keeper. He is levelheaded, studious and down to earth. He was the photo-fit of the perfect academy player.'

He was 15 then, but the presence of Nigel Martyn, then England's second-choice keeper, and Paul Robinson prevented him advancing to the first team.

Instead, Carson was a victim of the cash crisis that engulfed Elland Road and he was sold to Liverpool for £750,000 to keep the bailiffs at bay.

In between loan spells at Sheffield Wednesday and Charlton, he has waited patiently for his chance at Anfield. Waited. And waited. And waited . . .

'I can't understand why he doesn't play for Liverpool and maybe that is something you need to ask the manager and coaching staff at the club,' added Kidd.

'He is wonderfully talented but the acid test is when you throw a player in and they either sink or swim. My bet is that he will swim.'

Robinson was on a life raft when his air-kick cost England any chance of making a comeback in Zagreb last October, but he was tipped off it yesterday.

Injuries have played their part in England's desperate qualification campaign but so, too, has Robinson.

His confidence was crushed after the 2-0 defeat in Croatia and he has never fully recovered.

High-profile mistakes for club (v Everton, Manchester United, Aston Villa) and country (v Croatia, Germany and Russia) have done for him.

To watch the pair in training at London Colney this week has been to observe two goalkeepers at either end of the self-confidence spectrum.

Carson's tail has been up, muddying his knees with flamboyant saves and carrying the air of a man with his mind on Croatia.

Robinson has worn the haunted look of a man on death row. At 1.30pm yesterday, McClaren finally strapped him into the chair.

Heartbreak in one hotel room, elation in another. 'Scott deserves this chance,' claimed Ian Broomfield, who was chief scout at Leeds when Carson was making his way through the ranks.

'Leeds already had two great keepers in Nigel Martyn and Paul Robinson so it was always going to be difficult for him to get a chance at the club, but what a player.'

Carson excelled on loan at Charlton last season and his reputation has been enhanced at Aston Villa.

The former Under 21s keeper is expected to sign for Villa in January for around £10million but they could have had him for a fraction of that.

Broomfield, who followed David O'Leary from Leeds to Villa and is now chief scout at Portsmouth, added: 'We tried to take him to Villa for £600,000 but Doug Ellis wouldn't put his hand in his pocket — now they will have to pay £10m for him.'

Now he is the England keeper, they may have to pay even more.