Scott Carson committed to West Brom for the long-haul

Nov 22 2009 by Christopher Lepkowski, Sunday Mercury

SCOTT Carson is ready to store away his suitcase – which can only be good news for Albion.

The Baggies goalkeeper made it clear when he joined Albion that he was in for the long-haul having spent most of his formative years on the road.

The Whitehaven-born keeper started his career at Leeds in 2003 before moving to Liverpool two years later.

The presence of Jerzy Dudek and Chris Kirkland at Anfield meant that Carson was swiftly despatched for the first of his loan moves, to Sheffield Wednesday.

After nine games Carson returned to Liverpool, before hitting the road again – this time to Charlton Athletic, in south east London.

Thirty-six games for Athletic earned him Charlton’s player of the season award – but relegation meant there was little chance of him joining permanently.

Next stop was Villa Park, where 35 games helped Martin O’Neill’s men to a respectable place during the 2007-08 campaign.

But, again, it was only a loan spell.

His final port of call was The Hawthorns, with Carson joining Albion for £3million last summer.

And the England international insists that his Lone Ranger days are behind him. What’s more, he feels that establishing himself as a permanent fixture at Albion will benefit not only his career but the club.

“This is the most settled I’ve been,” said Carson.

“It was important to put down roots. From when I was 18 and at Leeds ever since then I was moving every year.

“I’m from Cumbria so I was pretty much a journeyman during that time. It’s strange going to a game or training wondering what the long term future holds.