Source: PA
Hughton hails matchwinner Carroll
Chris Hughton maintained there was never any question of Andy Carroll not leading the Newcastle attack at Arsenal, where the striker added to his England claims by heading a late first-half winner at Emirates Stadium.
The 21-year-old was in the headlines on the morning of this Barclays Premier League clash following fresh allegations about his private life. However, any off-the-field issues involving Carroll were put aside as the Magpies frontman headed home a deep free-kick into the Arsenal penalty area, which goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski should really have collected.
It was a robust display in front of watching England manager Fabio Capello, and added to those championing his inclusion in the forthcoming squad for the friendly against France at Wembley.
When asked if Hughton had any reservations about selecting Carroll given the headlines the team would have woken up to, the Newcastle manager insisted: "No. To come here and get the result we have, I think we deserve to talk about football matters."
Hughton continued: "I made a selection based on the continuity we have had from the last couple of games. I decided to play two strikers and just felt the confidence they have got from that meant the same group of players deserved another go.
"Andy is mentally very strong. He is a player who is developing, apart from having a prowess in the air, he has given us a mobility which can stretch defenders. He has still got a long way to go. He is working hard on all aspects on his game and he is certainly going in the right direction."
