Maxwell in awe of Carroll

Fleetwood goalkeeper Chris Maxwell feels honoured to be leading League One in clean sheets this season alongside Roy Carroll.

Maxwell used to watch Carroll as a Manchester United fan, so the fact the two top the division's shutouts chart this term is an incredible fact to the Welshman. Maxwell, Notts County's Carroll and Walsall's Richard O'Donnell have all been involved in five league matches where they have not been beaten in the new campaign. That is nothing new for Cod Army shot-stopper Maxwell, who kept 27 shut-outs last term for Cambridge and Fleetwood during their respective promotion campaigns. But the fact his name sits alongside Carroll's is scarcely believable, having watched the Ulsterman as a Manchester United fan. "To be mentioned in the same sentence as Roy Carroll is a big thing for me as a massive Man United fan," Maxwell explained. "I watched him play at Old Trafford - I think nearly 50 times for Manchester United. "I actually asked Conor (McLaughlin) to get a shirt for me when they were away with Northern Ireland which he did get for me. "It was a big thing even playing on the same pitch as me, nevermind competing with him for the amount of clean sheets. "He's a fantastic goalkeeper, he proved that against us and he's proved that throughout his career. I won't be taking too much notice of how many clean sheets I've taken compared to him because he's a big name." While Maxwell may have plenty of admiration for one of his current League One foes, it is a former Old Trafford legend who helped inspire him as a child. The 25-year-old from North Wales revealed he used to idolise Peter Schmeichel when he was part of the young age-groups at Wrexham. "I used to watch his video every Saturday morning before games at Under-9s, Under-10s level," Maxwell said. "He was a fantastic servant to Manchester United and I think he changed goalkeeping to what it is now." The position has evolved even more in recent years, though, with Manuel Neuer and Hugo Lloris among the new brand of keepers being deployed as auxiliary sweepers. Maxwell is keen not to get left behind himself and has been taking an avid interest in the growing trend among the goalkeeping fraternity. "You could even mention Fabien Barthez with his distribution; that was changing as well for a goalkeeper," added Maxwell. "I've been lucky to have seen some of these top goalkeepers as well being a Manchester United fan. I think Fabien Barthez was definitely one of them; he was small, sharp and quick. "But Lloris and Neuer have definitely taken that on. You see how sharp and quick they are and how much they read the game. "It's no more a goalkeeper just stands on his line and keeps the ball out of his net. There's so much more to the game attacking-wise as well. "It is definitely changing and it's one I feel you have to adapt to to stay with the times otherwise you'll get left behind."