The body of the former Sunderland first-team goalkeeper was found in a Manchester street by a dog walker.

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The 40-year-old had been reported missing from his Durham City home in the early hours of Thursday by a member of his family and was discovered in Stretford shortly after noon that day.

Greater Manchester Police said he had been staying in a hotel in the area and the details of the death have been passed on to the coroner, with an inquest expected to be heard in coming months.

He played 50 games for Sunderland between 1987 and 1992 and returned to the club as goalkeeping coach.

He was capped three times with England's youth squad in 1985 and made his Football League debut for his local side Bristol Rovers when he was 18, before joining Sunderland on Christmas Eve in 1987 for an initial fee of £35,000, with a further £15,000 payable, linked to first-team appearances.

He was signed as a cover for Iain Hesford, finding few opportunities, but enjoyed a run of senior outings in the first half of the 1989/90 season before Tony Norman regained his position as number one keeper.

He arrived at Sunderland as academy coach before taking over as first-team, his role changing when Raimond van der Gouw arrived last summer and took on responsibility for the first team.

The arrival of the Dutchman could have spelled the end of Carter's involvement with the club, but Roy Keane was eager to have him become more involved in bringing on the academy's players.

He was capped for England's youth squad in 1985.

He also appeared for Newport, Carlisle, Birmingham, Hartlepool, Milwall, Blackpool and Oxford befor hanging up his gloves at Halifax in 1999 and going into coaching.

He also coached the goalkeepers in Estonia's national side on a part-time basis.

He had been recommended by Mart Poom, Estonia's legendary number one, who had been impressed by Carter during his own stay at Sunderland.

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