Albion veteran goalkeeper Dean Kiely has pledged he is ready to fill Scott Carson’s shoes – but insisted he is not looking past the captain’s three-game suspension.

The two-time Championship-winner will make his first League start of the season against QPR next Monday, as Carson begins a ban for his red card against Cardiff last night.

Kiely said: “I will be making a contribution through unfortunate circumstances, but my professional head means I prepare myself and look forward to the games.

“I enjoy playing and racking up the games. I have been on the bench but I still prepare myself as though I am playing out of respect for myself and all the other players.

“If you’re sat there twiddling your thumbs you are no good to anybody. Scott’s going to be suspended and I’m fit and mentally ready to play.

“My outlook is to look no further than that and rack some points up over Christmas.”

The 39-year-old player-coach saved a penalty with his first touch after Carson’s red card last night, only for Peter Whittingham to net from the rebound.

But Kiely admitted to mixed feelings about his introduction.

He said: “Keepers get sent off but from my point of view that’s the worst way to get on, because I work very closely with Scott and I consider him as a really good friend.

“It’s not the circumstances in which I want to come on, seeing him trudging off after getting a red card. It’s disappointing from my point of view.

“There was obviously a coming together. Michael Chopra can get under people’s skin and I saw them go toe to toe.

“I didn’t see much else other than the ref showing the red card. I want to be on the pitch and make a contribution but not in those circumstances, because first and foremost I feel for Scott.”