Former Reading FC goalkeeper Alex McCarthy helped Southampton win promotion to the Premier League by winning the Championship play-off final against Leeds United.
The 34-year-old keeper kept a clean sheet at Wembley Stadium as the Saints won promotion back to the top flight just a year after being relegated.
McCarthy’s current contract at Southampton is due to expire in the summer with the club yet to make a decision on his future.
He joined Reading on a scholarship at the age of 16 and after several loan spells, he broke into the first-team during the 2010/11 campaign where he made 13 Championship appearances.
The Royals reached Wembley that year under Brian McDermott but were beaten 4-2 at Wembley by Swansea City as McCarthy was an unused sub.
After the club won promotion to the Premier League the following year, McCarthy played 13 times during the 2012/13 campaign, which included an outstanding display in a goalless draw against Liverpool.
The following season he played 44 times as Reading finished just one point outside the play-off places.
He departed Reading in August 2014 to join Queens Park Rangers for an undisclosed fee.
Having struggled for game time at QPR and then at Crystal Palace too, McCarthy signed for Southampton in 2016.
Having been with the Saints for eight seasons, he has made 147 appearances in all competitions.
He started the 2023/24 campaign as second choice goalkeeper for Russell Martin’s side behind Gavin Bazuna, but after the number one keeper picked up an injury, McCarthy stepped up to play the final chapter of the season and helped his side return to the Premier League.
