Source: Northern_Echo
Lovenkrands hoping for chance to fill Carroll gap
PETER Lovenkrands has claimed he is capable of filling the considerable hole left by the injured Andy Carroll when Newcastle travel to Wigan Athletic this weekend.[LNB] Carroll will not travel to the DW Stadium after a niggling thigh injury worsened this week and forced him to seek the advice of a London-based specialist.[LNB] The England international will be sorely missed as Newcastle look to bounce back from consecutive festive defeats, and Alan Pardew must choose from Lovenkrands, Shola Ameobi and Nile Ranger as he selects his side for the opening game of 2011.[LNB] The trio have scored just four league goals between them all season, but despite not having made a senior start since mid-November, Lovenkrands insists he is ready to step into the breach.[LNB] "We have to show we're not a one man team," said the Denmark international, who will be hoping to face England in Copenhagen in February. "Andy has been great, but there are a lot of players waiting in the wings who are looking to prove themselves, not just to replace him, but also to play with him. This is our chance.[LNB] "I hope it opens up a door for myself. It's been a strange season for me so far and I just hope I get a chance in these next couple of games. It's been hard for me because I want to play. It's been really frustrating."[LNB] Lovenkrands was a key figure in last season's Championship promotion campaign, scoring 13 goals in 29 appearances.[LNB] He re-signed as a free agent in the summer, but barely featured under former boss Chris Hughton, making just two starts and three substitute appearances in the opening 16 matches of the season.[LNB] A change in manager has not resulted in a change of fortune, with Lovenkrands' only appearance under Pardew coming as a 79th-minute substitute in Tuesday's 2-0 defeat at Tottenham.[LNB] He will hope to be involved tomorrow, though, and is eyeing a greater involvement in the second half of the campaign.[LNB] "I've never been given a run in the side, and even when I've come in and done well, I've not kept my place in the next game," said Lovenkrands. "It hasn't been good, it's been difficult for me.[LNB] "A lot has happened in the last few weeks with a new coach coming in, a lot has changed, and hopefully things can still happen for me.[LNB] "I'm desperate to get back into the team and I'm hungry to play. I'm not here to just sit and watch. I feel I've been doing well and I want to play."[LNB] Be that as it may, though, Lovenkrands will not be agitating for a loan move if he is unable to force his way into Pardew's plans before the transfer window closes again at the end of the month.[LNB] The 30-year-old is keen to play more regular first-team football, but is settled on Tyneside and has little interest in leaving on a temporary basis in the second half of the season.[LNB] "I came here to play," he said. "I didn't come here to sit on the bench. I don't think there are any players who would be happy with that. So I've just got to keep working hard and hope the chance comes.[LNB] "It's too early to talk about leaving. A new coach has come in and he is trying get to know the team and the players. I just hope I'm given a chance to prove myself. He has said everyone starts with a clean slate and that seems to be the case in training."[LNB]
