VETERAN goalkeeper Scott Carson is set to play for Manchester City in their Premier League clash with Leicester on Saturday.
Fifa have banned Ederson from playing and second-choice stopper Zack Steffen is isolating after testing positive for Covid-19.
Manager Pep Guardiola is set to have only third-choice Carson and reserves Josh McNamara and Mikki van Sas available for selection.
If Carson plays, it will be just his second Premier League appearance in TEN YEARS after spells in the EFL and abroad.
The former Liverpool goalkeeper’s only other Prem outing since leaving West Brom in 2011 was for City against Newcastle towards the end of last season.
Speaking after that game in May, Carson said: “I thought my Premier League days were over but thankfully I’ve never given up and I’ve got a chance tonight.
“I was surprised but since I’ve been here I’ve just tried to work as hard as I can and be there if needed and thankfully the manager has seen that and given me a game.”
Fifa have told City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Man Utd and Leeds they can’t play their Brazilian stars who skipped international duty – including Ederson.
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The Brazilian FA asked world football’s governining body to impose a ‘five day restriction’ on the players that didn’t travel during the break.
Under Fifa regulations, the ‘five day restriction’ is automatially mandated if a national association asks for it to be imposed.
The ban lasts for five days after Brazil play their final international game against Peru on Friday at 1:30am (UK time).
That means it will end in the early hours of Wednesday morning, allowing Ederson to return for City’s Champions League clash with RB Leipzig.
The row began after Prem chiefs stopped South American stars from playing for the respective countries due to the UK’s red list.
I am fully vaccinated, which just shows we all need to stay vigilant in our effort to end the global pandemic.
Zack Steffen
If Ederson had represented Brazil, he would have been forced to complete a ten-day spell in qurantine on his return to Manchester.
Furthermore, the player – according to Brazil’s own travel guidelines – would have had to complete a 14-day isolation stint in his homeland.
Despite this, Brazil demanded Premier League stars to be released – but their request was denied and the country’s FA have now responded.
Prem clubs are expected to contest the ruling – meaning Ederson could still feature against Leicester this weekend.
Steffen, meanwhile, tested positive for Covid-19 on Monday after spending time away with the US, despite having two vaccinations.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
