According to a recent report by the Sun, Newcastle United have agreed on personal terms with their former striker Andy Carroll who is currently a free agent after being released by West Ham United earlier this summer. Daily Mail correspondent, Craig Hope has also backed the claim by tweeting that the Magpies will secure the services of the English forward on a one-year deal later this evening.
Carroll’s Struggles With Injuries Throughout His Career In English Football
Carroll began his playing career at St. James’ Park before going on to establish himself as a first-team starter for the Tyneside outfit. Liverpool decided to bring him to Anfield at the start of 2011, but he failed to live up to high expectations surrounding his move to Merseyside.
Injuries ravaged his spell with the Reds, so he was shipped out to West Ham United in the summer transfer window of 2013. He spent seven years at the East London club but only made 142 appearances for the Hammers, scoring 34 goals and creating 17 assists across all competitions. Carroll’s time at the London Stadium was plagued by injuries which hampered his growth as a player. In total, the Gateshead-born striker has sustained 12 injuries that have kept him on the treatment table for four matches or more throughout his seven-year spell at West Ham United (via Football.London).
Hence, the Magpies are taking a gamble on him as there is no reason to believe that he would be able to stay fit for too many games in the 2019-20 Premier League campaign. The 30-year-old is in dire need of more first-team minutes, so this could be his last chance to succeed at the highest level. Thus, it makes sense for him to pen a one-year deal as both parties would be able to move on if Carroll fails to get his career back on track at Tyneside next season.
What Will The English Talent Bring To St. James’ Park?
Carroll is vastly experienced in the top tier of England. The English striker had a decent goal-scoring record during his first spell with the Magpies when he scored 33 goals in 90 appearances on all fronts. Hence, he could prove to be a low-risk, high reward signing for Steve Bruce heading into the new campaign.
The Toon Army would welcome Carroll back with open arms as he is a Geordie through and through and knows what it means to wear the famous black and white stripes of Newcastle. The ex-Liverpool frontman is a commanding presence in the opposition half and can win a lot of 50-50 aerial duels for his team. On his day, he can be a real handful for any defender in the offensive end of the field.
Will Carroll Be A Good Fit For Newcastle?
Even with his dire record with injuries, Carroll could still prove to be a decent fit for the Magpies if he can contribute by scoring a few goals off the bench. Steve Bruce is taking a calculated gamble as the English striker is available for free this summer and won’t mind spending time warming the Newcastle bench.
