Manchester City look set to pick third-choice goalkeeper Scott Carson against Leicester on Saturday in his first meaningful Premier League appearance for more than 10 years – 3,765 days to be exact. 

Pep Guardiola‘s hand has been forced and the champions may have to trust the 36-year-old Carson against Brendan Rodgers‘ side, with Ederson and Zack Steffen unavailable.

The Brazilian FA are leading the South American nations taking revenge for clubs blocking their players from travelling to ‘red-list’ countries by imposing a ‘five-day restriction’ on the players they called up, even though they did not fly.   

Manchester City are set to pick Scott Carson, their third-choice goalkeeper, against Leicester

Manchester City are set to pick Scott Carson, their third-choice goalkeeper, against Leicester

Manchester City are set to pick Scott Carson, their third-choice goalkeeper, against Leicester

Ederson is among the Brazil players to have been given a 'five day restriction'

Ederson is among the Brazil players to have been given a 'five day restriction'

Zack Steffen is out having contracted Covid on international duty with the USA

Zack Steffen is out having contracted Covid on international duty with the USA

Ederson (left) and Zack Steffen (right) are unavailable for selection for Pep Guardiola

That means City No 1 Ederson would not be allowed to play and the club could face punishment from FIFA if they chose to start him. 

The rule is agreed by the 211 member nations, in which a five-day playing restriction is automatically applied if a national association requests it. 

And the Brazil FA are invoking the rule for players that were blocked by their clubs in the Premier League from joining up with the team due to coronavirus quarantine restrictions, except Richarlison as they have a strong relationship with Everton.  

American 26-year-old Steffen would be the next cab off the rank as Ederson’s deputy but he tested positive for Covid on international duty with the USA. 

Steffen will miss the Leicester game and could still be out of the reckoning for the Champions League clash with RB Leipzig on September 15. 

So Carson is likely to make only his second start for City having made his first Premier League appearance in a decade last season when the title was already won. 

Pep Guardiola turned to Carson once last season and may have to do so again

Pep Guardiola turned to Carson once last season and may have to do so again

Pep Guardiola turned to Carson once last season and may have to do so again 

Guardiola selected him in the game against Newcastle last May, a match he conceded three goals in, although City won it 4-3. 

That means it will have beena total of 3,765 days since his last competitive start in the English top flight. 

Carson started his career at Leeds before moving to Liverpool, where he was loaned out on three separate occasions. 

He then played more than 100 times for West Brom before spending two seasons in Turkey with Busaspor before joining Wigan and then Derby.

Derby loaned Carson out to City between 2019-21 before they signed him permanently. 

Carson is most remembered, unfortunately for him, as the goalkeeper whose mistake led to England failing to qualify for the 2008 European Championship. He let a shot from Nico Kranjcar squirm into the net to hand Croatia a decisive 3-2 win in the Wembley rain on the night Steve McClaren was dubbed ‘The Wally with the Brolly’.

City will not be as badly affected by the international row as title rivals Liverpool, who will be without Fabinho, Alisson and Roberto Firmino, but Gabriel Jesus is another of their Brazil stars who will be unable to play.  

Carson conceded three against Newcastle last term but his side still won the game

Carson conceded three against Newcastle last term but his side still won the game

Carson conceded three against Newcastle last term but his side still won the game 

This post first appeared on Dailymail.co.uk

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