Hughton wants Carroll out of news

08 November 2010 18:00

Newcastle boss Chris Hughton has told striker Andy Carroll to concentrate on making headlines on the back pages of the newspapers rather than the front.

The 21-year-old endured a mixed day on Sunday when, after waking to read yet more lurid tabloid revelations over his private life, he turned in a match-winning display as the Magpies stunned Arsenal to claim a 1-0 Barclays Premier League victory at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal 0-1 Newcastle United: Report

Hughton said: "With Andy, it's about making sure that all the headlines he is making are on the back pages. He is a young man, he has made mistakes, but he has got to make sure he learns from those mistakes, and I am quite sure he will."

He added: "He is an environment here where he is getting a lot of support from the club, certainly the staff and the supporters, and I am quite sure his concentrations will be very much on football, 100%.

"Young professional footballers are easier targets. They have a different lifestyle, as people see it.

"They are young, privileged men and that's how people see it. They have got to make sure they don't get caught up in the pitfalls of it all."

On the pitch, things could hardly be going better for the Gateshead-born youngster, who followed up a superb individual display in a the 5-1 derby rout of Sunderland with his sixth goal of the season at the Emirates.

Whether that propels him into the England set-up remains to be seen, but his club manager is delighted with his contribution to a fine start to the campaign.

Hughton said: "That's down to the manager. All we can do for our part is support him and create an environment in which he can flourish.

"At the moment, he is a young man who is playing very well on the back of an excellent performance at Arsenal. The reason why we gave him that number nine shirt is because we saw that potential in him, and we hope that continues."

Source: PA