Carroll's Northern Irish Fears

Wants More Games
By Chris O'Brien
August 20 2004

Roy Carroll fears that his lack of first-team football at Old Trafford could hamper his chances of a regular slot in the Northern Irish side. The Ulstermen is determined to fight for his place in the Manchester United line-up despite fierce competition from Tim Howard and understudy Ricardo.

Roy Carroll believes he will have to play his way back into Sir Alex Ferguson's first-team plans if he is to secure to the number one jersey for Northern Ireland ahead of the eagerly anticipated World Cup qualifiers.

The Ulsterman kept an impressive clean sheet in Zurich earlier in the week, with the Northern Irish holding Switzerland to a 0-0 draw extending their unbeaten run to six games.

Northern Ireland have shown massive improvements under the leadership of Lawrie Sanchez, and will go into the World Cup qualifying campaign with new-found confidence after pulling off some impressive friendly results. Battles of Britain against England and Wales await the country in the group, and Carroll would so love to walk out at Old Trafford as the last line of defence for the Northern Irish.

"You want to play and be number one but sometimes it doesn't happen like that," said the former Wigan Athletic shot stopper.

"So the first thing I have to do is to get my spot back at United, then prove I'm good enough to play for my country."

Birmingham City's Maik Taylor is still Northern Ireland's preferred goalkeeper as he is playing regular first-team football week-in, week-out for the Midlands outfit. Tim Howard currently stands above Carroll in the Old Trafford pecking order, and the return of an ambitious Ricardo will not help the chances of the 26-year-old landing a regular slot in the Red Devils starting XI.