Goalkeeping coach Dean Kiely has backed Albion’s Scott Carson to reclaim his England squad place if he impresses for the Baggies this season.

Kiely believes Carson can force his way back into the national team set-up, as coach Fabio Capello looks to build a younger team for the European Championships in 2012.

Current first-choice David James looks set to bow out after the team’s World Cup failure, while Rob Green’s howler against the United States in South Africa has left his place in jeopardy.

Kiely said: “I can see Scott being part of it. I’m not being wise after the event, but I said before the World Cup that there were signs that the England team had ‘car crash’ elements to it.

“Joe Hart came out of it unscathed because he didn’t play and Ben Foster came out of it unscathed because he didn’t go.

“Scott falls into that category as well. They would have loved to have been around it, but the fact they weren’t means it won’t taint them and they go into this season fighting to show people what they can do.

“I think Scott will be in that category and will be asking questions of the management.”

Carson has not played for his country since November 2008, when he became Albion’s first England international for 24 years but was involved in a mix-up with John Terry that handed Germany a goal.

But the 24-year-old captained the Baggies to promotion from the Championship and produced a number of impressive displays near the end of the season, after receiving criticism from some supporters earlier in the campaign.

And Kiely, who took over officially as goalkeeping coach this summer, is backing the former Liverpool man to succeed in the Premier League this season.

He said: “I’ve been pleased with Scott. I expected him to have a strong season in the Championship, because he’s a Premier League goalkeeper. He was comfortable playing at that level and rightly so.

“It was a case of ‘job done.’ Playing in the Championship for West Brom means you’re not going to be peppered with shots or win Man of the Match every week.

“But he had a good season and it sets him up for this season.”