Carroll can be England’s main man, insists former boss Pardew

NEWCASTLE manager Alan Pardew is backing Andy Carroll to lead the line for England once he finds his feet at Liverpool.

Pardew reluctantly sold the 22-year-old to the Reds, who host the Magpies on the final day of the last January transfer window when owner Mike Ashley decided a bid of £35 million (€41 million) was simply too good to turn down.

That came as a huge blow to the manager, who had seen the Gateshead-born frontman take to Barclays Premier League football with a commendable relish under predecessor Chris Hughton and provide the spearhead for Newcastle on their return to the top flight.

Almost 12 months on, Carroll’s lack of form and that of the man he replaced at Anfield, Chelsea’s Fernando Torres, is the subject of an intense debate with the combined £85m which was paid for them looking ever more expensive, especially with Demba Ba, the summer free transfer who has since taken over from Carroll on Tyneside, having already plundered 14 goals this season.

However, Pardew, like Liverpool counterpart Kenny Dalglish, remains convinced Carroll will prove his worth sooner rather than later.

He said: “He hasn’t really had a run in that Liverpool side and like all strikers, he probably needs a run.

“He’s a great lad and a great player. I like Andy.

“It was disappointing to see him left out of the England squad the last time because I think he can be an England player and England’s number nine.

“He is going through a period of transition at a new club, finding his feet and finding out that they play slightly differently to how we did here, but he will find his way.”

Ba’s form eased the urgency to plug the gap Carroll left on Tyneside, although his impending departure for the African Nations Cup — Pardew is hoping to hold on to him until January 15 — means there will be a short-term vacancy.

The manager said: “We knew when we signed him that the African Nations Cup was coming up, so we will just get on with it. But it will be a loss because he is in great form, of course.”

Pardew had hoped to have a readymade replacement in the shape of Sochaux’s Modibo Maiga, although he has finally confirmed reports that the proposed £6m deal has broken down following a medical earlier this month.

He revealed that the club is unlikely to look for another frontman during January and will concentrate instead on finding a central defender in the wake of Steven Taylor being sidelined for the remainder of the campaign with an Achilles injury.

Pardew’s comments came as Montpellier owner Louis Nicollin said Newcastle were “too small” for Olivier Giroud, a striker with whom they have been linked recently.