Newcastle United fans may take some convincing before they come around to the idea of West Ham striker Andy Carroll returning to St James’ Park.
Barely a transfer window goes by without Andy Carroll being heavily linked with a return to boyhood club Newcastle United.
But while the ponytailed targetman may be stuck in a rut at West Ham at the moment, now might actually be the optimum time for Alan Shearer’s one-time heir apparent to pull on those famous black and white stripes once again.
Carroll, in some ways, is exactly what Newcastle are missing right now. Sure, the 28-year-old hasn’t scored a goal in eight Premier League games for West Ham this season, and has got a rather unhelpful habit of picking up needless cards, but on paper he looks like the missing link for Rafa Benitez’s toothless Tynesiders.
As The Chronicle points out, this most old-school of number nines is the perfect fit for Benitez’s lone striker system.
And while this tactic has been deemed rather negative by Newcastle supporters who want to see Dwight Gayle and Aleksandar Mitrovic being given more of a chance this season, perhaps it is a case of the wrong players rather than the wrong plan.
After all, Joselu is not exactly the most fearsome aerial presence – and has not really made the impact required when used as a lone targetman this season.
Carroll, however, is arguably the best in the Premier League at performing such a role. This is a Newcastle side who rely on delivery from out wide and need their centre-forward to help them get up the pitch.
Who better than Carroll, then, to lead the line?
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