Carson ends to end 24-year wait

Albion goalkeeper Scott Carson has targeted an end to Albion's 24-year wait for an England cap as he looked back on his return to the international fold.

Carson was back in Fabio Capello's squad for the World Cup qualifying wins this month, edging ahead of Robert Green to claim a place among the substitutes.

The Albion summer signing now has his fingers crossed for a third full cap, in one of the forthcoming friendlies against Slovakia and Germany this winter.

England have not capped an Albion player since Steve Hunt played in 1984, with Bryan Robson winning the club's last competitive cap three years earlier.

Carson said: "It would be great to get on the pitch as a West Brom player but I'm just taking one step at a time. Getting back in the squad was one of those steps.

"Hopefully I can keep playing well for West Brom and you never know what might happen. It would be nice to get a chance in the friendlies but that's the manager's choice.

"I'm sure he will look at who is playing well for their clubs before he puts them in.

"David James is obviously his number one and to be fair to him he played really well against Belarus. I thought he kept us in the game in the first half."

Carson was named as James' understudy for both the recent qualifiers, suggesting he will retain his squad place even when Blackburn's Paul Robinson returns from injury.

The former Liverpool and Leeds goalkeeper admitted his seat on the bench came as a pleasant surprise.

He said: "It was great to be back involved with the best players in the country. I was delighted to get a place and hopefully I can keep it.

"Getting on the bench was good and it was a surprise. Robert Green was in the last squad and I wasn't so I just expected to be in the stand, watching from there.

"To be honest I would have settled for that in my first squad back for a long time, because just to be part of it was great. But to get on the bench was a good boost.

"Robert was available for the first game, so to get the nod was a nice surprise."