West Brom goalkeeper Scott Carson insists he will not have anything to prove to Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill in tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League derby at The Hawthorns.

Carson spent all of last season on loan at Villa from Liverpool, but O’Neill chose not to sign him on a permanent basis and the England international joined Albion for £3.25m.

“I don’t feel I have a point to prove to Villa,” said Carson.

“The only people I have to prove a point to are here at West Brom and the club’s fans.

“This is where I am now, this is my business, and what happened last season is in the past.

“When I spoke to Martin O’Neill he hinted he was looking to sign a more experienced keeper and a few weeks later he signed Brad Friedel.

“It is never easy being at a club on loan because you cannot get yourself or your family settled and you are always on edge.

“But now I am getting myself settled here at Albion and I am really enjoying myself here.

“It is a great place and very homely. As soon as I spoke to the Albion manager, Tony Mowbray, I felt that I wanted to play for him.”

Having spent a year with Villa, Carson is ready to make full use of his inside knowledge on O’Neill’s squad.

He added: “No-one has asked me about Villa yet but if Tony Mowbray asks me what I know I will tell him everything I know.

“I don’t know if training with Villa’s players will make any difference for me. We will just have to wait and see.

Some banter

“They have a great bunch of lads there and I am sure I will have some banter with them. I had good times at the club.”

Carson expects a stern test against an in-form Villa side but believes he is heading into the game in good form after a sparkling display during last weekend’s 3-2 win against West Ham.

“It was a great relief to get our first win of the season against West Ham,” admitted Carson.

“It has put us right back in the mix.”