Source: Northern_Echo
Wenger tips Carroll for England place
ARSENE WENGER has urged Newcastle United striker Andy Carroll to constantly look to improve his football intelligence if he wants to become a hit on the England stage.[LNB] Carroll is on the verge of an England call-up after a stunning start to life as a Premier League striker, scoring five times and displaying an ability to cause problems to top defences.[LNB] He will come up against an Arsenal backline intent on delivering the sort of performance tomorrow that can close the gap on leaders Chelsea in the title race.[LNB] Wenger feels Newcastle have a young forward capable of becoming a household name on the biggest of stages provided he keeps his feet on the ground and allows his game to develop.[LNB] The Arsenal boss said: It wouldn't surprise me if he was in the England squad. I have been highly impressed with him. He has presence, charisma, confidence. He is intelligent on the ball. For me he is a player who I had doubts about one year ago but in the last year he has improved tremendously.[LNB] For a young player like Carroll to improve, he needs attitude. That means basically motivation and intelligence.[LNB] They are the two main things I see personally. When you are not highly motivated and intelligent your potential to improve is very limited.[LNB] If you have the right attitude and brain you can improve every day, and after a few years that makes a massive difference between two players with the same talent who don't have exactly the same ingredients.[LNB] Newcastle boss Chris Hughton is well aware of the talent he has at his disposal and just what sort of talent Carroll could become if he keeps progressing.[LNB] The 21-year-old played a crucial role in defeating Sunderland 5-1 at St James' Park last Sunday, despite not joining Kevin Nolan and Shola Ameobi on the scoresheet.[LNB] Hughton is now keen to forget about the events of six days ago, however, knowing his players can ill afford to get carried away by what happened.[LNB] Newcastle sit seventh in the Premier League in their first season back in the top-flight and the manager's aim remains staying in that division.[LNB] Rather than be brought down to earth by Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium tomorrow, Hughton intends to clamp down on any over-enthusiasm beforehand in an attempt to make sure his players are on top form again in North London.[LNB] It's been a good week. In the first couple of days after the game there was a great feelgood factor around the place, said Hughton. But you are very quickly on to the next one. It's a cliche but you have to be like that. We know that if we don't go to Arsenal and perform people will say we were still on a high from Sunderland.[LNB] If we go there and perform we can keep hold of the confidence.[LNB] We need to come down from where we were and go again.[LNB] West Brom got a result there, West Ham almost got a result, so Arsenal have been a bit up and down. It is still a very difficult place to go.[LNB] An Arsenal side in full flow is a very difficult prospect to take on. We have to go there with a belief that we can get something or you are defeated before kick-off.[LNB] Despite attempts to strengthen his backroom team, Hughton has still not confirmed who his new assistant manager will be following Colin Calderwood's departure to Hibernian.[LNB] Former Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr was hotly-tipped this week, but Hughton insists Kerr is just focused on turning the Faroe Islands' fortunes around.[LNB] Kevin Sheedy's claims were also dismissed.[LNB] Hughton said: It's a work in progress. Do I need someone in Yes. Irrespective of the last week a club of this stature needs a number two. They have roles to help the manager, specific stuff they do.[LNB] We have scouts and analysts but from a coaching aspect, I am doing it myself, along with Paul Barron. It is hard to lose Colin and he needs replacing.[LNB]
