Trevor Carson wants to be Craig Gordon's prime understudy at Sunderland next season.

Carson is delighted with the way the season has panned out, admitting he was initially troubled by fears he could be cast aside by manager Steve Bruce.

"I definitely feel I've progressed," Carson told safc.com. "At the start of the season I was at a crossroads. I could either let my career fall by the wayside and be forgotten about, or I could come back in the best possible shape and give myself a chance.

"It's been a big year for me personally and I don't think it could be ending any better. Not many 22-year-olds are on the bench in the Premier League.

"This has been a fantastic season and it gives me a foundation to maybe go out on loan and come back in a position to challenge. At the moment the only thing I lack is experience."

He added: "Craig is number one and I know I'm not going to play barring injuries. Plan A is to stay here and be the manager's number two by coming back and doing really well in pre-season."