Posted by Sport.co.uk on: 26 August 2010 – 10:51
Author: Michael Weightmann

There’s a new name being sung on the terraces of St James’ Park, a new number 9 ready to usher the club into a new era. If Sunday’s performance and hat trick against Aston Villa are anything to go by, the Newcastle United fans have a lot to look forward to with Andy Carroll, and the Gateshead born striker has already stated that he sees his immediate future on Tyneside. But the man with the worst haircut in football also has a chance to be a star on the international scene too. Let’s not forget the last Number 9 from Tyneside to wear the England shirt and his strike record of 30 goals in 63 games They breed finishers in the North East; Shearer, Milburn, Clough and the Three Lions’ record scorer, Bobby Charlton was also born up there.

It’s early days in Carroll’s career to be mentioned with those greats and even though he has been overlooked by Capello for the qualifying matches against Bulgaria and Switzerland, he certainly has all the attributes that could see him go all the way to the top.

Capello’s Young Guns

The England boss has already stated that he wants to invest in youth, and that he sees them as an integral part of the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign. The Italian made a token gesture in the Hungary friendly, bringing in the likes of Jack Wilshere and Kieran Gibbs, but why not go the full whack; get in players who can be the mainstay of the team for the next decade. Let’s be frank would Andy Carroll do a worse job than any of the forwards at the World Cup? As well, why start testing a 29 year old Zamora when there is a similar player eight years younger who could come in and be moulded into the finished article. With Rooney only three years older, the Three Lions could have a partnership for countless tournaments akin to some of the greatest; Shearer-Sheringham, Lineker – Beardsley – it may be short term pain, but has the potential to be very long term gain.

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