Carl Onora Ikeme (born 8 June 1986) is an English-born football goalkeeper. He is currently on loan at Sheffield United from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Despite his English birthplace, he has chosen to represent Nigeria at international level. He has been called up to the Super Eagles squad but has not yet played for them.^[1]

[edit] Career

Ikeme progressed through Wolverhampton Wanderers' academy and made the first team squad in their 2003–04 Premier League season. Due to Matt Murray's long term injury, he was promoted to the substitutes' bench for a string of games but never played.

To gain first team action, he moved on loan to League Two side Accrington Stanley.^[2] He made senior debut on 16 October 2004 when he played the first of four games for them, keeping a clean sheet at Aldershot Town. He also had a further loan move to Stockport County in Autumn 2005 which was cut short due to a hand injury.^[3]

He finally made his Wolves debut the following season, in a 5–1 win over Chester City in the League Cup on 23 August 2005. However, although often on the bench, he had to wait until 26 August 2006 for his first league appearance for the club when he appeared as a late substitute in a 1–0 win over Luton Town.

Ikeme suffered a knee injury during the 2006–07 season and had to undergo surgery, which kept him out of contention until late 2007. After recovering, he was an unused substitute or only employed in reserve team fixtures. It wasn't until September 2008 that he got his chance to return to Wolves' first team after regular keeper Wayne Hennessey was suspended.^[4] Impressing, he enjoyed a run of games until injury ruled him out for the remainder of the season during which the club won the Championship.

After regaining fitness, he joined League One side Charlton Athletic on a month's loan in October 2009 to cover for injured Robert Elliot,^[5] making five appearances. Upon the end of this loan he immediately went out on loan again, this time to Championship side Sheffield United for a month.^[6]

Ikeme is contracted to Wolves until Summer 2012.^[7]

[edit] Honours

• Football League Championship (II): 2009

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Official club profile
• Carl Ikeme career stats at Soccerbase