Darren Carter could be set to fulfil his dream of winning a league championship medal - but not with Birmingham-City, writes Hyder Jawad.
The England Under-21 international midfield player, an important member of the Birmingham team that drew 1-1 away to Chelsea last Saturday, could secure a winners' medal if Sunderland land the Coca-Cola Championship.
Carter spent three months on loan with Sunderland before being recalled by Steve Bruce, the manager, in December to help solve an injury crisis.
He has not looked back since returning while Sunderland have also flourished. He is hoping that his ten league appearances for Sunderland will be sufficient to earn him his second major gong in football.
The Football League have confirmed that players must have played 12 matches to qualify for a medal and they issue 16 to each club.
However, a club can apply to the league for extra medals - even if a player has appeared in fewer than 12 matches - and Carter is praying that Sunderland will grant him one.
He said: "It would be fantastic to win a medal and I am really rooting for Sunderland to win the league. It would be my first medal apart from the one I got for helping Birmingham to win the play-off final against Norwich at Cardiff three years ago.
"I really thought ten games was enough to qualify for a medal and if Sunderland win the title I'll be on to the phone to Mick McCarthy - but not just to ask about my medal.
"I will congratulate them on promotion and thank Mick for the massive part he has played in my development as a player. He gave me regular first-team football. It was the turning point of my career so far."
A year ago, Peter Crouch won a championship medal with Norwich City despite playing most of the season up front for Aston Villa. He also won a reserve-team championship medal with Villa but has since moved to Southampton.
