The Championship club confirmed Carney is no longer trialling at Bloomfield Road after only one substitute appearance against Morecambe in a 1-1 preseason draw on July 13.

au.fourfourtwo.com understands the 29-year-old declined to line up for his former club in a friendly against non-league side Kendal Town three days later, citing the risk of injury.

The versatile left-footer has been uncontracted for almost a year, having passed through 10 clubs in 10 seasons while hampered by recurring shoulder injuries.

Early last year he seemed to be getting his career back on track, signing with Uzbek champions Bunyodkor in February and coming on as a late substitute in the Socceroos 4-2 mauling of Saudi Arabia.

Even without regular game time, Socceroos coach Holger Osieck remained a firm fan of the former Sydney FC star.

“Basically, Holger told me to get playing," Carney told au.fourfourtwo.com after the Saudi match. "And once I’m playing I’ll be straight back in the national team.”

“He said today to me I’m only ready for 20 minutes. But he said get back playing so I can get you back in the team.

“That’s good confidence from the manager; it’s what I need. It was good to be back in the mix and injury free. Once I get a couple of games under my belt, I’ll be alright.”

Just 10 months later, Osieck admitted he had no idea what the one-time Everton youth player was up to since being released by Bunyodkor after only four appearances.

“It’s just very unfortunate that he has nearly lost six – seven – months playing which is never very productive,” the German tactician said in January.

Carney has continually rejected talk of a return to the A-League.

He left the Sky Blues for English Championship side Sheffield United in 2007 but despite a promising start was frozen out of the team following the arrival of boss Kevin Blackwell.

The following year he expressed hope that a strong performance in the Socceroos 4-0 romp over Qatar could help build his case at Bramall Lane.

"I hope it has – I’m confident in my own ability," he said after the win at Suncorp. "I've spoken with the boss Kevin Blackwell and he said to me technically I'm one of the best at Sheffield United.

"He knows, he just wants me to lift my tempo up to play for him because it's a very different game to international football.

"For Blackwell I've just got to show him that I can lift the intensity the way he wants to because technically he knows I've got it."

In 2009 he was loaned to Norwich City, and followed that up with moves to FC Twente in the Eredivisie, Blackpool in the Premier League, AD Alcorcon in the Spanish second division and then Bunyodkor.

Carney made 11 appearances for Blackpool in 2010/11 but left the club after it was relegated to the Championship.

He was most recently linked with Persepolis FC in the Iran Pro League in November last year, although nothing came of a reported trial with the club.