Source: Telegraph
Newcastle's Andy Carroll stakes claim for firstteam berth with reserves display
The towering targetman strengthened his claims for a place alongside Michael Owen in the Newcastle attack when he struck twice in the reserve team game against Manchester City at St James' Park.
In front of Newcastle manager Shearer and his right-hand man Iain Dowie, the Gateshead-born 20-year-old earned the second string side a 2-1 victory over their City counterparts with fine goals capping an impressive all-round display on Monday night.
The 6ft 3in Carroll, who recently broke into the England Under-20 side, would come in handy at both ends of the field against Stoke even though he has scored just twice in 17 Newcastle appearances.
Shearer, the club's record goal-scorer, will know that a player of his physical stature could bring the best out of skipper Owen who has traditionally thrived alongside a targetman such as England colleague Emile Heskey.
Plus, Carroll's aerial prowess could prove vital against a Stoke side who use set-pieces and particularly Rory Delap's long throws to such good effect.
Carroll, who recently signed a new three-and-a-half year contract at the Tyneside club, has made plenty of headlines this season for the wrong reasons having been involved in training ground bust-ups with Charles N'Zogbia and Shola Ameobi.
Now Shearer will want him to channel his aggression in the right direction this week with the Premier League club's relegation worries deepening following last weekend's 2-0 defeat by Chelsea which left them third bottom of the table.
Meanwhile, reserves manager Richard Money has allayed fears that midfielder Danny Guthrie was set to join Newcastle's injury list after he was taken off with a sore knee during the City game.
"I think Danny will be okay for the stoke game," Money said. "We took him off as a precaution and we don't think it's anything too serious."
