Source: Team_Talk
Hangeland set to subdue Carroll
Mark Hughes has backed the ultra-competitive Brede Hangeland to put the brakes on Andy Carroll in Fulham's clash at Newcastle on Saturday.[LNB] Carroll has taken the top flight by storm since the Magpies' promotion and his seven goals in 12 games look set to earn him a maiden call-up to the England squad for Wednesday's friendly with France.[LNB]The 21-year-old has netted in his last two outings and his final chance to impress Fabio Capello and his staff comes at St James' Park.[LNB]But Hangeland will be no pushover, having just managed to keep Didier Drogba quiet in Fulham's 1-0 west London derby defeat at Chelsea on Wednesday night.[LNB]And manager Hughes has revealed just how much the 29-year-old hates to lose.[LNB]"He is very disappointed when he loses games, as we all are, even if he loses challenges or five-a-sides on training fields," Hughes said.[LNB]"There is the same intensity to his work.[LNB]"He wants to work hard for the team and that inner drive is what you want to see in players."[LNB]However, Hughes knows Hangeland cannot keep Carroll quiet for 90 minutes unaided.[LNB]"Obviously, we are aware of the areas that Andy Carroll likes to attack, so hopefully we can actually stop the source to him," he said.[LNB]"I think that's probably the best plan of action.[LNB]"But that is not easy to do on every occasion so, when the ball is played into our box, we want the likes of Brede to challenge and show his strength in the air as well."[LNB]Despite his on-field exploits, it is Carroll's off-field activities that have seen the striker hit the headlines for the wrong reasons this season.[LNB]Hughes is therefore ambivalent about the prospect of an England call-up for the Newcastle number nine.[LNB]He said: "You have to say issues around his life may cloud the clearness of that decision but, in football terms, he deserves a call-up."[LNB]In stark contrast, Hughes was unequivocal about the job done by opposite number Chris Hughton, who has still to be offered a new contract to replace the one that expires in the summer.[LNB]"I think everyone in football is surprised he has not been offered a new contract," Hughes said of the man who has led Newcastle to fifth place after 12 games of their first season back in the top flight.[LNB]"He's done a great job. He's stabilised the club after relegation and brought them back up and now they are riding high."[LNB]Fulham, no the other hand, have won only twice in the league since Hughes took charge this summer and have dropped to 15th - though still only four points behind tomorrow's opponents.[LNB]The Cottagers have not recorded an away win since the opening day of last season, a statistic which Hughes is all too familiar with.[LNB]"It is not something that sits comfortably with any of us," he said.[LNB]"Certain areas of our play when we play away need to improve to give us a chance to win.[LNB]"It is something that possibly is there before we go out on the field so we need to get those thoughts out of our minds."[LNB]It may help Hughes' players to know Fulham have won on three of their last five visits to St James' Park, while Newcastle have also lost three of their six home games this term.[LNB]He said: "That gives us some encouragement because teams have gone there and played well and got positive results and that is what we need to do."
