Scott Carson is set to make his second Premier League appearance in a decade, with Manchester City facing a goalkeeper crisis.
First-choice stopper Ederson is set to miss the champions’ clash with Leicester City on Saturday, after the Brazilian FA asked FIFA to enforce a five-day ban on players that did not appear during the latest batch of internationals.
Ederson along with teammate Gabriel Jesus were two of eight Premier League players to not travel to Brazil, after top-flight bosses unanimously decided to not release those which would need to travel to red-list countries.
Had the 28-year-old turned out for the Selecao, he would have had to quarantine for 10 days upon his return to Manchester, as per the current government guidelines.
Instead, City decided not to release him, but now Brazilian chiefs have told FIFA to enforce the restrictions between September 10 and 14.
City are expected to appeal the ban, but there is a chance he will miss the game at the King Power Stadium.
USA international Zack Steffen is Ederson’s backup , but he is also absent after testing positive for Covid-19 whilst on international duty.
The American had already been suffering with back spasms, but the positive test will definitely see him miss the clash with the Foxes.
That leaves 36-year-old Carson as Pep Guardiola’s most senior option, with youngsters Josh McNamara and Mikki van Sas fighting for a place in the squad.
Carson has played just one Premier League game since leaving West Brom in 2011, turning out for City in the closing months of last season.
Initially signed on loan from the Rams, Carson was announced as a permanent City player during the summer window, signing a one-year contract at the Etihad.
Speaking about his decision to start Carson against the Magpies, Guardiola opened up on the huge influence the veteran keeper has within the City dressing room.
He said: “Maybe people don’t know it but he’s a real leader for us.
“He says straight away what he believes, he has a lot of experience, he has been in incredible locker rooms with big teams.
“He is an incredible person and we are delighted – not just me but Eddy (Ederson) and Zack (Steffen) and the players that today he could play.”
In more positive news for Guardiola and City, Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne are both set to return to the squad after missing time in the early portion of the season.
Foden has been out since the Euro 2020 semi final, while De Bruyne missed the 5-0 win over Arsenal before the international break.