Recently by Steve Wollaston

SCOTT Carson has insisted he is with Albion for the 'long haul' - regardless of whether they stay up or not.

The 23-year-old returns to Villa Park on Saturday for the first time since his loan spell last season.

Villa opted not to pursue the England goalkeeper, signing veteran Brad Friedel instead.

But Carson has no ill feelings towards Martin O'Neill and, despite Albion's current position, is happy at The Hawthorns.

Right now they seem to be in football's equivalent of purgatory, somewhere between the top two divisions.

Go back four years. Albion signed Kanu, Jonathan Greening, soon-to-be-star Zoltan Gera and then record signing Rob Earnshaw.

They stayed up. Just.

Since then the club has made great strides. The training facilities have improved, the West Stand boasts some of the best facilities you'll see in the Premier League and the club remains on a sound financial footing.

But Albion remain uncompetitive in the Premier League.