Carroll aims to grab opportunity with both hands

THE gloves are off in the battle to be Old Trafford’s number one.

Alex Ferguson acknowledged on Saturday that Tim Howard had finally suffered the dip in form he had expected much earlier following his summer move from Major League Soccer.

With Manchester United’s season on the brink of complete collapse, Ferguson has taken Howard out of the firing line for the match against Tottenham and offered Roy Carroll only his second Premiership start of the campaign.

The Red Devils boss was rewarded for his boldness as United kept their first clean sheet since the January 25 FA Cup win over Northampton, when, ironically, Carroll was again in goal.

Ferguson immediately confirmed Carroll would keep his place, not only for Sunday’s Premiership match with Arsenal at Highbury but also the crucial FA Cup semi-final clash with the Gunners at Villa Park the following week, on which United’s entire season now rests.

It is a welcome opportunity for the 26-year-old Northern Ireland international, who has made just 32 senior appearances since joining the Red Devils for £1.5million from Wigan three seasons ago.

During that time, the nearest he has come to claiming a regular first-team berth was at the end of last season when Ferguson blamed Fabien Barthez for United’s Champions League exit to Real Madrid and axed the eccentric Frenchman for the final three games of the triumphant Premiership campaign.

Yet throughout that time Carroll has never thought of himself as a back-up option and while his current rivalry with Howard is friendly, he is determined to seize the number one slot for himself.

“The manager hasn’t told me I will be playing against Arsenal yet but it will be a big boost to me if he does,” he said.

“I don’t see myself as a second choice here and I never have done. I was first choice at Wigan and at Hull City before that. When I came to United I knew I had to learn my trade for a couple of seasons but I want to establish myself as number one sooner rather than later. If I play against Arsenal, I won’t put myself under any more pressure than I do normally but obviously it would a chance I want to take.”

Carroll knows his window of opportunity may not be open long. Even as he was pushing Howard aside, Ferguson claimed the New Jersey-born keeper will eventually go on to become a star performer in the Premiership.

“Mentally this season has been very tough for Tim,” revealed the United boss.

“I have no doubt the lad is going to be a top goalkeeper but I just feel it is an appropriate time to give Roy the next three games and see how he does.”

Carroll could not have started in more confident fashion, although he is likely to find himself under more pressure over the next fortnight than he was last Saturday.

On current form, it is difficult to see United winning one of the two meetings with Arsenal, let alone both. Gary Neville might be back from suspension this Sunday as the Old Trafford outfit look to stop Arsenal setting a record 30-game unbeaten run from the start of the season, but influential duo Roy Keane and Louis Saha are likely to be less than 100% fit for the capital trip.

It is hardly the best situation to be in ahead of a collision with Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira and Robert Pires, especially as an away win is an absolute necessity if United are to stand any chance of clawing back the Gunners’ 12-point Premiership advantage.

Yet despite strong evidence to the contrary, Carroll insists his team is not inferior to Arsene Wenger’s and will head to Highbury in confident mood.