Albion goalkeeper Scott Carson is back in the England shake-up as he prepares to face his former Villa team mates in the Hawthorns derby.

Veteran England goalkeeping coach Ray Clemence watched the Baggies’ £3.25million summer signing in action against West Ham last weekend, the clearest signal yet that he is still in boss Fabio Capello’s thoughts.

Clemence was sent by Capello to run the rule over both Carson and Hammers keeper Robert Green.

It was 23-year-old Carson who caught the eye in the 3-2 Baggies win while Green, who has made recent international squads, suffered a nervous afternoon at the opposite end.

Carson has not played for England since the blunder in his full debut in the fateful Euro 2008 qualifier against Croatia at Wembley, although he was an unused member of Capello’s first squad.

Now there are clear signs that he remains on the Italian’s radar and is still in with a chance of becoming the Baggies’ first England player since midfielder Steve Hunt in 1985.

Carson has another chance to impress the nation in the televised clash with the club where he spent last season on loan from Liverpool.

Baggies boss Tony Mowbray believes Carson has the right attitude to earn a recall from Capello.

Mowbray said: “I’m pretty sure he believes he can get back in. It’s not a discussion I’ve had with him, because I tend to talk to him about how he does for us.

“He trains well every day, works exceptionally hard and is a great lad. His performance levels have been very high and I’m sure if he maintains that and team do well, his stock will rise again.”

Mowbray insists England should not lose faith with the big Cumbrian, on the back of one highly-publicised error in the final qualifier for the European Championships.

The Albion manager said: “Any goalkeeper as young as Scott Carson who plays for England on such a big occasion has done something right.

“They don’t just pluck him because they think he is a nice lad and stick him in goal. You play for England because you are considered to be consistently good at what you do.

“I don’t lose faith in my team after a defeat or after the first three or four games, with people telling me we can’t score goals. It’s the same with a goalkeeper.

“You use what you see with your eye week in, week out and you back your judgement on it.

“I could have thought about the goal against Croatia and have written him off as a goalkeeper. That would be silly, because you judge people on what you see every day.

“As a supporter you see him on a Saturday afternoon but as a coach you see him every day. He has been very good for us every day in training.

“He is a top goalkeeper and he can only get better. Where his career goes is down to him and how his development continues. Hopefully at this club it will continue.”