Source: Team_Talk
Big Sam sings Carroll's praises
Sam Allardyce believes Andy Carroll could become a fixture for both Newcastle and England - and should face France next week.[LNB] Carroll played under Allardyce during the Blackburn manager's short time in charge of the Magpies and has thrust himself to the verge of England selection with some powerful performances.[LNB]Allardyce, who will return to St James' Park for the first time as a manager on Wednesday night, has also warned that if Carroll does get the call by Capello he must not let it go to his head.[LNB]Allardyce said: "I had Andy as a young man at Newcastle when I was there, and you could see the raw talent.[LNB]"They love a number nine there and it's a big ask to live up to the expectation but he's brave, he's fearless and he has exceptionally good ability, particularly aerially - as we saw against Arsenal. Few players could score goals of that type today and that's why he's such an exciting player.[LNB]"He's the sort of centre-forward that Fabio Capello likes - a big man up front.[LNB]"In the beginning it was Emile Heskey and we all know the one thing Emile couldn't give the England side was goals. He could make a lot of goals and could create opportunities but you had to rely on other players scoring.[LNB]"Then Peter Crouch has been tried, and I think Andy Carroll is emerging now and on the back of a very good start to the Barclays Premier League - and six goals to boot - he deserves to be included in a friendly international. I think Fabio should let the lad have a little taste of what it's like at that level."[LNB]Allardyce warned that Carroll should take care not to follow the path of Michael Ricketts, who was capped by Sven-Goran Eriksson and then his career went downhill from there.[LNB]He added: "I can cast my mind back to Michael Ricketts getting a chance when I was at Bolton. He played in Holland for England for half a game and let that go to his head and his career almost evaporated from that day on.[LNB]"So it can be a very dangerous thing as well as a very, very good thing and Andy and everybody around him has to manage that if he gets the call that he deserves."[LNB]Allardyce said he is unconcerned about the reception he will receive from the Newcastle fans - he is more concerned about achieving a result against a side who have won three league games on the spin.[LNB]He said: "It will be my first trip back to St James' Park as a manager and I don't know whether I'll get a good or bad reception. It's three years ago and a long time since it happened and, right or wrong, what happened is history.[LNB]"They are the in-form team in the league, three wins on the trot has boosted their confidence so we will need to be at our very best."
