A footballer’s life can turn in ninety minutes. There are games that define some players’ careers – a goal in a major final, for instance - whilst for others it is an injury from which they never fully recover. For a few, however, it is the ignominy of being identified with a particularly high profile error that keeps on haunting them.

Scott Carson is dangerously close to falling into that latter category. When Steve McLaren chose him for England’s crucial home game with Croatia, he was simply fulfilling what many had prophesized – and demanded - for the young goalkeeper. Hyped up as the best English keeper, little notice was given to his lack of experience especially at games where so much was at stake.

In hindsight, it was a huge mistake. Easily at fault for two of Croatia’s goals, Carson abysmally failed to prove his worth and for most of the game looked like someone who dearly wanted to be somewhere other than the Wembley pitch.

Perhaps he could imagine what lay in store for him as, along with McLaren, he was pinpointed as the reason for England’s elimination which was followed by the inevitable brutal criticism. Quickly forgotten were his heroics for Charlton despite the club’s relegation or his fine form for Aston Villa till that point of the season. Decidedly in the past was the praise for this young goalkeeper because all that mattered was how his errors had cost England.

It was the sort of situation that would have gotten to much more experienced players, let alone someone of Carson’s age. Inevitably his form suffered and from then on his play became progressively worse. An unfortunate situation that only reinforced the image of Carson being damaged goods.

His misfortune was compounded by what was happening between Liverpool and Aston Villa. Rafael Benitez’s decision to go for Gareth Barry didn’t go down too well with Martin O’Neill who promptly dismissed any offer by Liverpool to put in players as make-weights in the deal.

Despite his late season dip, Carson had done well enough at Villa and was widely expected to join them, even if the £10 million fee quoted by Benitez looked decidedly inflated. Had there been the willingness to do so, that fee would have probably been negotiated downwards. Instead, caught up in the escalating fued between the two clubs, it became a serious point of contention about which no one was willing to back down.

All of which has put Carson’s career on hold. Perhaps frightened off by the reported transfer fee or else by the memory of his game for England, few clubs have expressed an interest in him. West Bromwich Albion were one of those few but their offer was to take him on loan something that suited neither Liverpool nor the player.

Having spent the past two seasons at Charlton and Aston Villa respectively, he now needs stability in his career to be able to progress. With Pepe Reina just four years his senior, it is unlikely that his chance at Liverpool will ever come regardless of how long he waits. For him to stay at Anfield makes little sense, something that everyone is aware of.

At the moment, however, he doesn’t have much choice. With Aston Villa out of the equation and West Brom’s approach not really an option, the only ones to have made some noises about Carson have been Middlesbrough and Stoke even if neither club have pushed this past the rumours stage.

All of which must be terribly frustrating for Carson who will be aware of how important it is for him to play at the highest level on a regular basis if he is to get another opportunity to prove his worth in an England shirt. And to prove that for him there is life beyond those ninety minutes against Croatia.