It would be fair to say it’s been a strange old year for West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Scott Carson.

Beaten for six on the opening day of the season, an improvement in form and then that poor run of displays in the New Year.

A dreadful performance at Fulham resulted in the hook before he was given a reprieve following the appointment of Roy Hodgson.

An excellent performance at Stoke was undone by a slip against Newcastle when he was perhaps held responsible for the home side’s second goal in the 3-3 draw.

And to top it all, Albion are looking for a new keeper.

A strange year indeed.

Yet Chris Brunt believes Carson has been worthy of his England call-up.

And the Northern Ireland winger described his club team-mate as the best goalkeeper he has worked for.

Brunt believes that Carson, should he play against Switzerland this Saturday, will not let anyone down, claiming that goalkeepers are often the first to take the hit when it comes to criticism from the media and from the terraces.

“He’s done well for us again this season,” said Brunt.

“Scott came in for some stick around Christmas time and therefore dropped out of the side.

“But since then he has done very well.

“Potentially he is as good as any goalkeeper I’ve played with or seen.

“If he can keep that together he can do very well in the rest of his career.

“I think he gets some unnecessary stick because the amount of goals we concede and shots he has to face, he is going to let goals in, especially before the new head coach came in and made us more solid.

“But if you’re having ten shots at you you’re going to concede a goal.

“To be fair we don’t really help him much.

“Goalkeeper is an easy position to criticise because if you make a mistake it results in a goal.

“But, as I said, he’s the best keeper I’ve played with and he’s good to have around the place.”