Having impressed with an improving Premier League side, the Leeds youth product was slated following a goalkeeping gaffe for England. Sound Familiar?
The former Leeds trainee was tipped for a big future in the game following a £1m move to Liverpool in January 2005.
He featured in just four games for the Reds and has since appeared on loan for Sheffield Wednesday and Charlton – where he spent a season fighting an unsuccessful battle against the drop.
With Villa keeper Thomas Sorensen injured pre-season, Carson joined on a loan deal in August 2007, and his agility and command of his area helped the club to a top six finish.
However, a successful domestic campaign was overshadowed by his blunder in England’s Euro 2008 qualifying defeat against Croatia at Wembley.