Monday 25 July 2011 13:48, UK
Former Manchester United goalkeeper Roy Carroll is nearing a move to League One side Preston on a free transfer.
The 33-year-old has been searching for a club since leaving Danish outfit Odense in February but now has the chance to re-establish himself in England at Deepdale. He's impressed while on trial at the club, featuring in two pre-season friendlies against Blackburn and Kendal. Carroll, who won a Premier League winners' medal and the FA Cup during his four seasons at Old Trafford between 2001 and 2005, will bring plenty of experience to Preston having also played for Wigan, West Ham and Derby during a long career which started at Hull back in 1996. His superb performances in Denmark earned him the goalkeeper of the year prize in 2009-10 as Odense finished runners-up behind Copenhagen while last season he helped them reach the group stages of the Europa League for the first time. But Carroll wanted a return to English football and is keen to help Preston return to the Championship at the first attempt following their relegation last season. Carroll's solicitor Simon Dent told Sportinglife: "We are in talks with Preston North End as to a possible move for Roy. "Having spent a week at the club, Roy was very impressed with the set up and is keen to show the club and its supporters that he is still a top class keeper."