Derby County forward Cameron Jerome claims that his teammate Scott Carson deserves another chance in the England squad.
The 31-year-old was speaking after the Rams’ 1-1 draw with Norwich City at Pride Park on Saturday, where Matěj Vydra’s first half strike was cancelled out by James Maddison’s penalty.
In the first half however, Norwich had another attempt from the penalty spot, where Carson denied Canaries forward Nélson Oliveira.
Prior to kick-off, Carson had kept four consecutive clean sheets in the league and Maddison’s second half penalty was the first goal that the 32-year-old has conceded in the league since New Year’s Day.
In recent months, Derby fans have started singing this chant:
Love this from Derby fans!
🎶 Viva Scott Carson,
Viva Scott Carson,Get him on the plane,
Sit him next to Kane,Viva Scott Carson! 🎶
(🎥 @DCFCFANTV)pic.twitter.com/ikdozlRs4X— Coral (@Coral) December 28, 2017
Carson has previously made four senior appearances for England. His debut in 2007 is remembered for the wrong reasons, as his mistake for Niko Kranjčar’s opener in a 3-2 defeat to Croatia culminated in the Three Lions failing to qualify for UEFA EURO 2008.
Jerome, who signed for Derby from Norwich less than a month ago, previously played alongside Carson for England’s Under 21s between 2005 and 2007 and believes that his experienced colleague deserves another chance under Gareth Southgate.
“There’s no reason why not”, said Jerome.
“You’d like to think players from any club are chosen on merit and performance. In that respect, I’d say he is in with a shot.
“There’s not a stand out goalkeeper at the minute in the Premier League who is nailing that number one spot, so it does seem it may be up for grabs.
“It could be more highlighted if Derby have a strong end to the season and his performance levels stay strong so who knows he could be in with a shot of gate crashing the party. If that opportunity comes for him, we’d all be delighted for him.”
This season, the former Liverpool and West Bromwich Albion has been in fine form, keeping 16 clean sheets in 30 league games this term, with only Wolverhampton Wanderers’ John Ruddy managing more shutouts.
The 32-year-old’s highlight of the Norwich game was saving a penalty from Oliveira towards the end of the half.
Jerome, who played alongside Oliveira at Norwich explained how he had told Carson where Oliveira tends to put his spot kicks prior to Carson’s save.
He added: “To be fair I did say to Scott to go that way before the ball had been kicked because he does always go that way, but he told me he already knew.”
“That time he kept it out, but they changed penalty taker for the second one. Scott has been brilliant recently and will be disappointed to concede.”
