AFTER eight years as a professional goalkeeper, Northern Ireland international Trevor Carson finally knows how it feels to go into a season as his club’s number one.

The 24-year-old signed for Sunderland in 2004, but remained in the shadows at the Stadium of Light, going out on loan to Chesterfield, Lincoln, Brentford and Hull before finding a home at Gigg Lane.

It was during his second successful loan spell at Bury, which ended at the end of March, that Carson agreed to move permanently – but then had a nervous wait for the Shakers to secure their League One status before the deal could be rubber-stamped.

“There’s always that niggling thing in the back of your mind – it’s football, anything can happen, you don’t take anything for granted,” said Carson, who was replaced between the sticks by Jonathon Bond during the run-in.

“I came down to see a few games and I was always watching the results. I always had faith that we could beat the teams we were playing, but it was good to see we got over the line.”

The wise-cracking young keeper could not wait to get down to Bury to put down some roots before the start of the season, buying a house with his girlfriend.

He also kept in touch with his Bury team-mates over the summer and is fully settled in – ready and raring to go.

“It’s a different feeling, coming here knowing you’re going to play games, you feel more important,” he said, eager to spur the Shakers to another successful season.

“We all know ourselves that this year is going to be tough. You only have to look at our opening fixtures to see how tough it is going to be. But we don’t fear anyone in this league.”