THE last time Hartlepool United had a player capped at international level was back in 1964; for Trevor Carson the wait for his own international ambitions to be realised must have felt an age.

Long mentioned in international circles, the goalkeeper was in contention for a place in the Northern Ireland European Championship squad this summer, but failed to make the final cut.

This week, Carson was named in Michael O’Neill’s squad for next weekend’s World Cup qualifier in the Czech Republic.

It’s a reward for his fine start to the season, and an acknowledgement that he was so close to making the finals.

“It was obviously disappointing in the summer, but it’s nice to get the call – and the first time I’ve been called up on merit rather than someone dropping out of falling sick,’’ he reflected ahead of this afternoon’s game at the Northern Gas and Power Stadium with Newport County.

“I was part of the training camp in the summer, but it was hard to miss out on the Euros and I felt sorry for myself a couple of days. But football is all about set-backs and it’s how you respond.

“Michael told me I was part of his plans and I knew someone would be watching me this season, and I’ve done alright. I’m relived as much as anything to get the call.

“I knew big Roy wouldn’t retire and he’s doing really well back at Linfield, so I knew my place wouldn’t be granted.’’

The disappointment of not making the final 23 – a squad which had to include three goalkeepers – was soon put to bed as Carson joined the massed ranks of supporters intent on making the most of their first appearance in a tournament since 1982.

“I went to France for the Germany game in Paris,’’ he mused. “I guess a few fans will be looking at the squad now thinking ‘I recognise him’. I’m a Northern Ireland fan at heart, so to be part of it all is a dream.

“I saw a few other players out there at the time who were among the fans – I can’t think of many other nations who would be the same.

“This is our first World Cup qualifier and we are off to Austria for a few days before, Michael likes that and it’s somewhere the squad went to before the Euros.’’

Carson, a multiple player of the year award winner at Pools last season, accepts he is behind Michael McGovern in the pecking order. The No 1 was the hero of a nation for his performance against Germany to secure a place in the last 16.

Since the finals he’s signed for Norwich City and Carson said: “I was speaking to Michael on Wednesday and he can’t believe how much things have turned around. You take gambles in life and he took the gamble that he had a contract on the table from Hamilton, but he felt he could do well, maybe get a couple of lucky breaks and go from there.

“His club form has always been good, but big Roy took sick before the Romania game, he came in and never looked back. It’s changed his life around, but he deserves it.’’

Before heading off with his country, Carson faces Newport County this afternoon, as Pools look to put last weekend’s disappointing 2-1 home reverse to Notts County behind them.

They led, but two second-half goals turned the game around and Carson is confident of a positive response today.

“As a team there’s a lot more to come, but we are frustrated to be on five points when you look at how many points we have left behind already,’’ he reflected.

“We have to lick our wounds from Saturday and we have an opportunity to put it right.

“The gaffer said at half time that the only way we would lose it was due to our own downfall and it was.

“We stopped doing what we were first-half, but now we go again.

“It’s a new outlook here, the manager wants us to be an attacking side, but in front at home and it’s up to us to manage the game and see it out.

“A draw at worst, but you should never lose. The manager gives us freedom to go out and play, but we didn’t manage the game on Saturday. I’m sure Notts County couldn’t believe their luck.

“At Exeter we saw the game out well, we chased it, were open and it suited us. We need that balance. If we were good at everything we wouldn’t be in League Two. We hope to find a happy medium and there’s room to be excited about how we go from now on.’’