Carroll out of Tottenham clash

Newcastle striker Andy Carroll has lost his battle to be fit for Saturday’s Barclays Premier League clash with Tottenham.

The 22-year-old had hoped to return after missing the last four games, including the Wear-Tyne derby trip to Sunderland, with a thigh injury.

Manager Alan Pardew too was keeping his fingers crossed that the club’s leading scorer would be available against the club which has been repeatedly linked with a big-money move for him during the January transfer window.

However, the Magpies have confirmed Carroll will miss out once again, but that he is likely to resume at Fulham on Wednesday, February 2.

In the absence of the 11-goal striker, Newcastle have won two and drawn one of the three Barclays Premier League games they have played, with Shola Ameobi scoring the winner at Wigan and Leon Best plundering a hat-trick in a 5-0 rout of West Ham.

Their only defeat to date has been the shock 3-1 FA Cup third round embarrassment at Stevenage.