O'Neill: Carson for England

Martin O'Neill has praised Aston Villa goalkeeper Scott Carson for his performances this year. The keeper will play for England against Austria on Friday. He has been rewarded for his form with selection ahead of Paul Robinson.

O'Neill said: "Scott gained a great deal of experience playing at Charlton last season and the experience he has had with us this season will stand him in good stead.

"I also accept the fact he is very young, a young keeper gaining that experience.

"I couldn't tell you if he was chosen for England in a really important game how he would react to it all.

"But he is capable of doing very well. He is far from the finished article but the great thing about Scott is that he has a great appetite for work.

"He wants to improve and he wants to keep improving and those are aspects of this game that I admire most.

"He really does want to become a really good keeper. I'll be delighted when he plays for England."