Carson vows to make up for England blunder

Scott Carson has vowed to erase bitter memories of the mistake that stopped England reaching Euro 2008 by regaining his position as Fabio Capello’s first choice goalkeeper.

Carson joined newly-promoted West Bromwich Albion from Liverpool for 3.25 million pounds (four million euros) last week and is looking forward to a fresh start after struggling to break into the team at Anfield.

But he knows he will have to have an outstanding season to convince Capello to make him England’s number one after his blunder against Croatia in a crucial qualifier last season.

Carson, making his competitive international debut, allowed Niko Kranjcar’s shot to squirm into the net in the match at Wembley and England eventually lost 3-2, confirming their elimination from Euro 2008

The 22-year-old, who was on loan at Aston Villa at the time, suffered a dip in form after that which saw him lose his place in the England squad.

He is determined to make amends this season.

“Obviously on another day we could have gone through and I could have played in the European Championships but it was one of those situations and we never had the best of nights,” Carson said.

“I made a mistake in the first half, that is fair enough, I accept the criticism. You can always say what if but there is nothing we can do now so there is no point in keep going back over things.

“To be honest, I’m sick of people keep going over and over the Croatia game. It has gone. It was one of those things but that’s in the past and I am looking to the future.

“I think I am good enough to get back into that England squad. Hopefully I can get a bit of consistency going again and I’ll be looking to get back in.

“I was left out of the end of season squads but I don’t think I had the best couple of games with Villa before the squad was announced so that was fair enough.

“I took it on the chin and it just made me want to get back into the squad.”