Carroll relishing Hammers task

Roy Carroll enters a Premiership season as an undisputed first-choice goalkeeper and insists he has no regrets about leaving Manchester United.

It might be with West Ham, rather than United, but Carroll scoffs at the suggestion the only way is down when you leave Old Trafford.

He might not have made the grade as Peter Schmeichel’s full-time successor, but Carroll is putting his four years as a United player behind him as he embarks on a new mission, to help keep the Hammers in the Barclays Premiership.

The Northern Irishman was offered a new deal at United, but he opted against accepting the role of occasional first-team player and took up an alternative offer from the Hammers.

The Enniskillen-born stopper, who served as understudy to Fabien Barthez and Tim Howard, sharing first-team duties almost equally with the American last term, is relishing the season ahead.

He has not been so sure of completing a season as first choice since United bought him from Wigan in 2001.

“I’m here now and if I make mistakes – and we all do sooner or later – I just have to get on with it and take the flak,” said Carroll.

Carroll’s most notable blunder at United was one he got away with, when he spilled a Pedro Mendes shot over the line in January’s match against Tottenham at Old Trafford. Referee Mark Clattenburg and his linesman let play go on, to Tottenham’s frustration.

But there were also expensive errors in Champions League games against AC Milan and Lyon.

“I’m not worried about Manchester United any more. You have to forget about the past in this game and look to the future,” Carroll stressed.

“When I was a kid growing up in Northern Ireland there were only two clubs really – Manchester United and Liverpool, but West Ham was a name that everybody respected. It’s good to be here.

“They have a good manager who has made some good signings. They have had their ups and downs but so have I, and now there is a lot of talent in the squad.

“I know we’ll be quoted among the favourites to go straight down again but it’s going to be difficult to do more than that.

“West Brom only managed to stay up in the last game of the season but we’re aiming higher. We are looking to push up in the top half of the table and that’s what we are going to try to do.

“I just see myself as another player here, not a big fish in a smaller pool.

“There’s no less pressure. All I’m concerned with is the fans and the other players. I know what I can do with my ability and I believe I can do the business here.”

Hammers manager Alan Pardew is confident new signings Carroll, Yossi Benayoun and Danny Gabbidon will steel his side for their return to the top-flight.

But the former Reading boss knows he needs another top striker to play alongside Marlon Harewood.

He missed out on Togo frontman Emmanuel Adebayor after Monaco changed their minds about selling him and has had two inquires for Tottenham’s Fredi Kanoute - a former West Ham star – turned down. Pardew may yet return with a fresh bid.

The speculation is keeping play-off hero Bobby Zamora on his toes, and the former Brighton and Tottenham frontman also has veteran Teddy Sheringham to contend with.

Zamora admits: “I’ve known it would be a challenge keeping my place in the Premiership ever since I scored the play-off winner, but I’m ready to fight for it and all I can do is work hard and impress the gaffer.

“Everyone has got something to prove and that includes me. I didn’t start that many games last season, don’t forget, but in the big games I managed to produce the goods.”