Source: Eurosport
Carroll keen to grab Magpies chance
Newcastle goal hero Andy Carroll admits he is still "buzzing" after his equaliser at Stoke on Saturday gave the Magpies a relegation lifeline.
Carroll, 20, has struggled to force his way into the first team reckoning but under his hero, Alan Shearer, he has been encouraged to learn he is on the verge of a starting role.
With Obafemi Martins' groin injury raising doubts about his availability for Sunday's trip to Tottenham and Shola Ameobi and Michael Owen struggling for form and fitness, Carroll's big chance could come at White Hart Lane.
"The aim for me is to keep training well, keep my fitness high and hopefully do as well as I can to stay in the first team," Carroll told the Northern Echo.
"I thought the whole team was pushing on when I came on. Stoke dropped off a lot and we put a lot of crosses in when I came on. Luckily Damien Duff put a good cross in, which I got my head on.
"After going one down at Stoke we would have taken the point, but we came for all three. We were disappointed to concede when we did but we fought back and got the equaliser."
Carroll used to watch Shearer as a Newcastle fan during his days as a season ticket holder at St James' Park and now the Gateshead-born striker can't believe he scored the first goal of the Shearer reign.
"My head is buzzing. It was a goal the team needed to keep us in touching distance of the other teams in the relegation zone," said Carroll.
"It was well needed. I just knew where the goal was and aimed for it - it was lucky to get it over the keeper. It felt unbelievable.
"It was great to come off the bench and get the equaliser absolutely great."
