Carney sends Anelka-less Bolton packing

DAVID CARNEY’S career has been filled with more drama than an episode of Home and Away, but by scoring Sheffield United’s winner, the Australian winger justified his decision to pursue a career in the game after the massive disappointment of being released by Everton.

Carney was shown the door soon after appearing alongside Wayne Rooney in the 2002 FA Youth Cup Final and returned to Sydney after unhappy spells at Oldham Athletic, non-League Halifax Town and Scottish First Division side Hamilton Academical but his career received an unexpected lift when he was signed up to play alongside Dwight Yorke at Sydney FC. Carney’s pace and goals helped his home town club win the A-League and on the back of that he was named in the Australian senior squad ahead of Harry Kewell.

It was while he was on duty with his country that he first came to the attention of Bryan Robson and the Sheffield United manager acted quickly to bring him to Bramall Lane on a free transfer in August. Fast forward to Saturday evening and while his former manager David Moyes was conducting an inquest into Everton’s FA Cup demise at the hands of League One Oldham, 24-year-old Carney was on the phone to Sydney informing excited friends and relatives of the goal he scored to knock four-times winners Bolton Wanderers out of the FA Cup and earn United a place in today’s fourth round draw. “I don’t have a bad word to say about David Moyes. He knew I had talent, but it had reached the stage whether he wanted to keep me on or not,” said Carney.