Source: Northern_Echo
Carroll signs on for five years
Andy Carroll last night expressed his pride at signing a new five-year contract with his hometown team Newcastle United. Carroll penned a new deal yesterday to end a lengthy spell of negotiations, which began when he played a pivotal role in last season's successful Championship campaign. While there was never any prospect of the Gatesheadborn striker leaving St James' Park, all parties will be delighted that such a long-term commitment has been secured. For Carroll, it guarantees improved terms which recognise his talent and ability. The 21-year-old has emerged as one of the leading Premier League strikers in the early stages of the season and has leapt to the verge of a maiden call up to the senior England squad. For Newcastle, it safeguards the future of one of the club's leading assets and mitigates against the possibility of other clubs making a move for him in future transfer windows. All I have ever wanted to do is play for Newcastle United, said Carroll, who has scored four goals in seven games since securing the coveted number nine shirt at the start of the season. That's been the case since I was a teenager playing for the juniors and reserves, and it's still the same now. Every time I pull on the black and white shirt and even more so now that I have the number nine on my back it means the world to me, so to be able to do that for the next five years is brilliant. Yesterday's developments round off a difficult week in which Carroll was dropped from the starting line-up at Man City and overlooked for both the England Under-21 and senior squads. Manager Chris Hughton was quick to underline the striker's continued importance at Eastlands and he will continue to be Newcastle's lead striker for the remainder of the season. Shola Ameobi and Peter Lovenkrands are both below him in the pecking order. The Magpies have pledged to stand by Carroll when he appears at Newcastle Crown Court this month to answer a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Hughton has already ruled out any new additions during the January transfer window, so guaranteeing the retention of Carroll's services is a key development. Magpies owner Mike Ashley has regularly outlined his vision of Newcastle becoming a crucible for the development of homegrown youngsters. As the leading talent to have emerged from the club's Academy for a number of years, Carroll is clearly at the vanguard of such a project. We're dedicated to bringing exciting young players through our youth academy to play for the club, said managing director Derek Llambias. Andy Carroll certainly fits that bill, having graduated through the ranks here, and we're extremely pleased to have agreed with him a new long-term deal. Players like Andy are the future of this club and we have spent a long time putting together a deal that is right for both him and Newcastle United.