Source: Northern_Echo
Hughton backing Carroll
CHRIS Hughton believes Andy Carroll won't be affected by Fabio Capello's decision not to select him for England's Euro 2012 qualifier next week.[LNB] Carroll has impressed this season, scoring four goals in seven games including a hat trick against Aston Villa and was widely tipped to get his first senior call-up for their forthcoming match against Montenegro at Wembley.[LNB] Speculation grew when the 21-year-old was left out of the Under-21s squad for the European Championship playoffs later this month.[LNB] With injuries to Jermaine Defore and Bobby Zamora it seemed likely Capello would draft Carroll into the squad.[LNB] However, when the announcement was made on Monday, Carroll's name was not on the list with the Italian instead giving veteran Bolton Wanderers forward Kevin Davies his first international call-up.[LNB] Hughton backs Carroll to continue to score in a black and white shirt, despite being left out of the Magpies starting line-up against Man City last Sunday.[LNB] I don't think Andy will have been affected by the fact he wasn't selected by England,[LNB] Hughton said.[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.[LNB] He knows he is still a young player and is still learning.[LNB] He won't worry about it.[LNB] He will just get on with it.[LNB] He has had a very good start to the season, but he is still developing.[LNB] 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] While Hughton is delighted with the way the 21-year-old has stepped up to Premier League football, he stressed Carroll is still relatively inexperienced at this level and believes he still has much to learn.[LNB] Carroll will be hoping to be back in the Magpies' starting XI when Wigan travel to St James' Park a week on Saturday.[LNB] Hughton put his faith in the Gateshead-born striker at the start of the season by awarding him the No 9 jersey and despite reports of interest from Stoke and Tottenham, the manager insists Carroll will be a massive part of what the club are trying to achieve.[LNB] He is gaining experience all the time and that is the good thing, he said.[LNB] He is going to get better and better, I am confident about that.[LNB] All 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 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] Meanwhile, the Football Association have revealed they will consider Newcastle's request for action to be taken against Manchester City midfielder Nigel de Jong.[LNB] Club officials sent a strongly worded' letter to the FA, asking them to punish de Jong for his tackle which left Hatem Ben Arfa will a broken leg.[LNB] An FA spokesman said: We will consider the contents of the letter.[LNB]
