Matt Le Tissier suggests Andy Carroll could lift Newcastle gloom

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Andy Carroll returned to Newcastle United on the final day of the summer transfer window.

Matt Le Tissier suggested on Soccer Saturday (broadcast on Sky Sports on 24/8; 13:16) that Steve Bruce will be desperate to have Andy Carroll available to him as he fears that he may be the one player who can change the mood at Newcastle.

Bruce’s men have lost both of their opening two games this season. While the 1-0 home defeat to Arsenal provided some reason for cautious encouragement, the 3-1 loss to Norwich last weekend would have set the alarm bells ringing.

The Magpies rolled the dice on transfer deadline day when they announced that they had signed Carroll on a one-year deal following his release from West Ham (via BBC Sport).

Carroll is currently sidelined with injury – a reminder of the risk attached to a move for the 30-year-old – but Le Tissier suggested that he could make a massive difference if he is able to stay fit once he becomes available to Bruce.

“He will be desperate for Andy Carroll to get somewhere near match fitness so he can have somebody there who can possibly lift it around,” he told Sky Sports. “An old fans favourite going back there, if you get him fit and he stays fit, he might just be the one player who can make a difference to the atmosphere in the stadium.”

Le Tissier’s comments are worrying at this stage of the season. Newcastle appeared to respond to a poor start to the summer with some exciting statements of intent, including the acquisitions of both Joelinton and Allan Saint-Maximin. But much of that optimism has evaporated.

Of course, Newcastle can quickly make progress by ending their wait for a win, especially if Joelinton gets off the mark. But you could understand why some of the Toon Army are feeling extremely pessimistic about the season ahead.

It certainly says a lot that Le Tissier is wondering whether Carroll could prove to be their last hope of turning the feeling on Tyneside around given that the former England international’s last league goal came in April 2018.