9:17am Thursday 9th September 2010
By Will Scott
ANDY CARROLL has declared himself fully fit to face Blackpool on Saturday.
The Newcastle striker had been struggling with an ankle injury prior to United’s 1-1 draw with Wolves a fortnight ago. The setback forced him to pull out of the England Under-21 squad ahead of their European Championship qualifiers with Portugal and Lithuania this week.
Manager Chris Hughton pulled Peter Lovenkrands and Nile Ranger out of the reserve team’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool on Tuesday as a precaution.
But Carroll has allayed any fears he might not make the club’s clash against Ian Holloway’s newly-promoted side at St James’ Park, by making his boss aware he is both ready and willing to play. And, contrary to some reports, United’s four-goal striker has trained this week.
The news that the Gateshead-born frontman is to line up against the Tangerines will worry Holloway, who saw the Magpies’ in-form striker score in a convincing 4-1 victory over Blackpool on Tyneside last season, while also netting at Bloomfield Road in United’s 2-1 reverse.
And when asked how his defenders were going to stop the formidable forward, the 47- year-old Blackpool chief quipped: “Simple, step on his hair.
“On a serious note, what a good player he is looking. Carroll’s got to be close to an England call-up.
“He’s an old-fashioned No 9, and I don’t mean that with any disrespect. He can head it; he is strong; he is a threat when the ball is crossed into the box, getting his barnet or his foot on the end of it.
“That is a classic English centre forward for me. They are a dying bread and it is brilliant to see him doing so well.
“Hopefully he won’t do well when we play them. But who knows? They beat us 4-1 last season in the Championship, so we’ve got to improve big time.”
New boy Ben Arfa is another who has joined the Carroll fan club. The midfielder believes he can supply the bullets for Carroll to shoot Newcastle up the table and is hoping to line up with the 21- year-old on Saturday.
The France international, who is likely to be on the bench, said: “I have seen Andy play in two matches so far. I have been very impressed with how hard he works for the team.
“I think there are a lot of players in the side who have got that same work ethic as Andy. That brings a great quality to the team.
“I want to start working hard now and providing the ammunition for people like Andy, I think there could be a lot of goals in this team.”
Sol Campbell, meanwhile, took another step closer to full fitness after yet another run out for Peter Beardsley’s reserves.
The defender, who played an hour of the 2-2 draw with Liverpool, has declared himself fit and ready, if needed.
“I’m in with a shout I just have to keep training hard now,” he said. “Once you have the minutes under your belt you just have to wait for the call from the gaffer.
“I needed to get the minutes, and that’s what it is all about really. I’m getting stronger and stronger.”
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/trade_directory/