Carroll facing dilemma

Roy Carroll's agent has admitted the keeper's costly blunder against Milan could have harmed the keeper's future prospects at Manchester United.

Francis Martin has been trying to negotiate a new deal for the Northern Ireland international, who is out of contract in the summer, but Carroll is concerned that he is not Sir Alex Ferguson's long-term choice for the number one slot.

Ferguson reacted to Carroll's slip in the UEFA Champions League by recalling Tim Howard for the Premiership win against Portsmouth.

It is anticipated that United, despite denials, will buy a new keeper in the summer and the ball seems to be in Carroll's court regarding whether he stays to fight for his place or moves to pastures new.

"We are not trying to drum up ant extra interest," said Martin. "It is purely a professional decision on Roy's part.

"His preference would still be to stay at United but he wants to be clear in his mind that he is seen as a long-term first team prospect.

"A month ago, it looked like that was the case but, unfortunately, he has made a couple of mistakes recently and that might have put doubt in the manager's mind again.

"It is a big decision for him [Carroll] to make and is certainly nothing to do with money."

The 25-year-old has been offered a three-year deal by United but his high-profile mistakes against Milan and Tottenham, when he luckily escaped spilling Pedro Mendes's harmless lob over the line, appear to have cast doubts over his suitability as The Red Devils' long-term number one.