Source: Telegraph
Chris Hughton: being snubbed by England won't bother Andy Carroll
Hughton spoke out after his Gateshead-born forward found himself deemed surplus to requirements both by England Under-21 coach Stuart Pearce and then - contrary to expectations - by Fabio Capello. [LNB]The snub means that Carroll will remain on Tyneside when the Under-21s face Romania in Norwich in their 2011 European Championship qualifier play-off on Friday and when Capello's side take on Montenegro at Wembley in their Euro 2012 qualifier on Tuesday. [LNB]But despite being overlooked by Capello and Pearce, Hughton remains convinced that Carroll, 21, will make sure that he turns the situation to his advantage. [LNB]'He will learn from everything that happens to him,' Hughton said. 'Of the things that have happened to him over the last few weeks, the one thing I'm absolutely certain about is they will make him a better player. [LNB]'He is gaining experience all the time and that is the good thing. He is going to get better and better, I am confident about that. [LNB]'He is a huge part of what we are trying to achieve this season, and he is a huge part of what this club is trying to achieve moving forward.'[LNB]Hughton is adamant that the situation will not have an adverse effect on Carroll. [LNB]'I don't think Andy will have been affected by the fact he wasn't selected by England,' Hughton added. [LNB]'There was a lot of speculation in the media and I'm sure he was aware of that, but I don't think he is upset. He knows he is still a young player and he is still learning. He won't worry about it. He will just get on with it. [LNB]'He has had a very good start to the season, but he is still developing. I left him out of the starting line-up at Manchester City because he had been struggling with a virus and he was a little below par, but that is normal. [LNB]'He is going to have ups and downs. That is natural at this stage of his career. He isn't going to be at his best all the time because he is a young player, and that happens.'[LNB]With Hughton's attention now turning to Newcastle's home game against Wigan a week on Saturday, he will be happy to be able to work with Carroll who lost his place in the starting line-up to Shola Ameobi at Manchester City. [LNB]'Whether he is called up by England, or whether he is called up by the Under-21s, all of that is out of our hands,' Hughton continued. [LNB]'But, if I'm honest, the one thing you always worry about when a player is away on international duty is whether they come back injured [LNB]'Instead, we've managed to keep hold of Andy and he is here with us. I'm sure he will be selected again, but that isn't up to me.' [LNB]
