Source: PA
Toon boss patient over Carroll
Newcastle striker Andy Carroll has been warned his learning curve is about to get significantly steeper as he attempts to make his way in the Barclays Premier League.
The 21-year-old Geordie was handed the daunting task of leading the line as a lone striker in the season's curtain raiser at Manchester United last Monday evening, and performed admirably in the face of one of the sternest tests he is likely to face this season.
But he will run out at St James' Park against Aston Villa for the first time with the famous black and white number nine shirt on his back and a huge weight of expectation resting on his shoulders.
Manager Chris Hughton knows he has thrown a player with only a handful of Premier League appearances under his belt in at the deep end, but having seen him score 19 goals in last season's triumphant Coca-Cola Championship campaign, he is confident there is more to come. However, he is equally aware that the rapidly blossoming frontman will be up against better defenders this time around.
Hughton said: "When you look at what he was up against on Monday night in [Nemanja] Vidic and [Jonny] Evans, both of whom I rate as top quality players, that's the sort of quality he is going to be up against.
"I know (Villa defender) Richard Dunne very well from my association with Ireland - that's what he is going to be up against and that will be the challenge for him."
