Goalkeeper on Olympic standby

Reading goalkeeper Alex McCarthy has not made the 18-man Great Britain Olympic football squad, but has been put on standby.

The 22-year old was in Stuart Pearce’s narrowed 35-man shortlist but did not make the final 18 man cut. Birmingham’s Jack Butland and Middlesbrough’s Jason Steele are the two goalkeepers that have been selected, with the Royals shot stopper on standby if an injury was to occur to either keeper.

McCarthy was a part of Pearce’s U21 side that took part in the Euro Championships back in 2010, but was back-up in that tournament to Derby’s Frank Fiedling. The former Leeds loanee could well be loaned out for Reading’s Premier League campaign, with Federici high likely to retain the number one spot throughout the season.

Wiki page: Alex McCarthy