Alex McCarthy

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Alex Simon McCarthy (born 3 December 1989) is an English footballer who plays for Reading. He has also represented England U21's.

Club career

McCarthy is a product of the Reading academy, joined Conference National team Cambridge United on work experience on 26 March 2008 and made his debut two days later in a 3–0 defeat to Kidderminster Harriers.^[2][3] He joined Aldershot Town on a month's loan on 2 February 2009.^[4] His debut came in a 3–2 defeat to Exeter City in League Two on 14 February.^[5] He started just three matches for The Shots before returning to his parent club prematurely, due to the injury of Marcus Hahnemann and so was required as backup to Adam Federici.

At the start of the 2009–10 season McCarthy was loaned to League One team Yeovil until January 2010.^[6] He received the first sending off of his career after a challenge against Stockport County's Nicholas Bignall, who incidentally was also on loan to his respective club from Reading. During his loan spell at Yeovil, McCarthy played 44 of their 46 league games keeping all 12 of their clean sheets. He was loaned out to Brentford again for the first month of the 2010–11 season before returning to the Madejski Stadium with Ben Hamer going in the opposite direction on loan.

On the 19 February 2011, McCarthy made his Reading debut by coming on as a substitute for an injured Adam Federici in the 84th minute against Watford. The final score was 1–1 after Noel Hunt equalised for Reading.^[7] Federici was out injured after damaging a ligament in his knee. As a result, McCarthy got a long run of games including appearances in the FA Cup against Everton at Goodison Park and Manchester City at Eastlands.^[8] Three days later McCarthy made his full debut against Millwall.^[9][10] The game finished as a 2–1 win for the Royals. McCarthy's third Royals appearance saw him save a penalty in a 3–3 draw against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.^[11]

On 1 March 2011, McCarthy played in the FA Cup match against Everton at Goodison Park. Deep in the second half McCarthy made one of his most notable saves from a Leon Osman close range shot which was later described as a lucky super save. The match ended in a 1–0 win for the Royals and during the match Kevin Keegan described McCarthy's performance as tremendous.^[12]

On 13 March 2011, McCarthy played against Manchester City and the Royals lost 1–0 at Eastlands. McCarthy made a number of saves including a double save from Shaun Wright-Phillips and David Silva. McCarthy then kept his second clean sheet for Reading in a 1–0 at Barnsley when he denied Martin Devaney and Marlon Harewood after new signing Mathieu Manset scored his second goal for Reading.^[13]

On 4 November 2011 McCarthy joined Leeds United on a one month loan,^[14] due to the poor form of Paul Rachubka and injury to first choice keeper Andy Lonergan.^[15] McCarthy made his debut in the 1–0 win against Leicester City on 6 November, the clean sheet for McCarthy on his debut was only Leeds' third clean sheet of the season.^[16] McCarthy produced a string of find saves to help earn Leeds' 2–1 win against Burnley on 19 November.^[17] McCarthy kept consecutive clean sheets for Leeds against Nottingham Forest and Millwall.^[18][19]

After keeping out returning number one Andy Lonergan, McCarthy's impressive form continued, when he saved an injury time penalty against Watford from Marvin Sordell with Leeds 1–0 down, the save proved crucial as Leeds scored a last minute equaliser.^[20] The game was due to be McCarthy's last of his one month loan, however he revealed after the game that he wanted to stay at Leeds.^[21] After impressing in his first month, McCarthy's loan spell at Leeds was extended on 12 December by a further month.^[22] With him being ineligible against his parent club Reading on 17 December, Andy Lonergan came back into Leeds starting lineup. Leeds lost the game 1–0, with Lonergan feeling he was culpable for the goal conceded.^[23] After McCarthy's two-month loan spell ended at Leeds he returned to Reading on 3 January.^[24]

On 8 January 2012, McCarthy was sent out on loan to fellow Championship side Ipswich Town until the end of the season.^[25] On 21 January 2012, and on his third game for Ipswich, he returned to Elland Road (this time against Leeds United). With 20 minutes remaining and Ipswich one goal up, McCarthy was sent off for handling the ball outside the penalty area. Leeds went on to win the game 3–1.^[26]

International career

McCarthy has trained with both the under-19s^[27] and the under-21s.^{[28][29][30][31]} In August 2010, McCarthy was a second half substitute for the England U-21s in the friendly win against Uzbekistan at Ashton Gate. He came on in place of Frank Fielding. On 15 March 2011, it was announced that McCarthy was named as part of a 31 man squad to face both Denmark in Viborg and Iceland at Deep Dale, Preston.^[32] If McCarthy plays he will face current understudy Mikkel Andersen for Denmark and former teammate Gylfi Sigurðsson for Iceland.^[33] McCarthy started his first game for the under 21s against Denmark and managed to keep a clean sheet in a 4–0 win.^[34]

2012 Olympics

McCarthy was named in the 80 man long list of potential players for the Team GB Men's Football team.^[35]

Honours

Individual

• Football League Young Player of the Month: March 2011^[36]

References

External links

• Alex McCarthy career stats at Soccerbase
• Alex McCarthy career stats at Soccerbase
• Alex McCarthy profile at the Reading website

v t e England squad – 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship 1 Fielding 2 Mancienne 3 Bertrand 4 Muamba 5 Smalling 6 Jones 7 Albrighton 8 Henderson 9 Welbeck 10 Sturridge 11 Sinclair 12 Gibbs 13 McCarthy 14 Walker 15 Tomkins 16 Cork 17 Cleverley 18 Lansbury 19 Rodwell 20 Rose 21 Delfouneso 22 Wickham 23 Steele Coach: Pearce