Shearer puts faith in Carroll

Newcastle boss Alan Shearer put his faith in homegrown youngster Andy Carroll for the Barclays Premier League clash against Tottenham at White Hart Lane.

Carroll earned a point against Stoke last weekend after coming off the bench and he was paired in attack with skipper Michael Owen.

Shearer, in his third match as a manager and looking for his first win, had other striker options on the bench, with Obafemi Martins recovering from his groin complaint and Mark Viduka back fit.

Spurs club captain Ledley King felt a twinge in his knee late in the week and was replaced by Michael Dawson, while Jermaine Jenas was out with a hamstring injury and Wilson Palacios returned from suspension to replace him.

Striker Jermain Defoe was back on the bench after injuring his foot at the end of January.