Soccer: Newcastle have contacted the Football Association to voice their fears over Andy Carroll's impending senior international debut this evening.
England manager Fabio Capello yesterday confirmed the 21-year-old striker would win his first cap against France despite reporting with a groin injury. The club’s medics assessed the injury before the player met up with the rest of the squad and contacted the FA to “express their concern” over the possible consequences of his involvement.
They fear any aggravation of the problem could rule Carroll out of Saturday’s Barclays Premier League clash with Bolton.
It is understood the Magpies’ missive stopped short of asking for the Gateshead-born frontman to be withdrawn, but rather urged caution with him.
Carroll has been one of the mainstays of Newcastle’s creditable start to life back in the top flight, which currently sees him at the top of the scoring stakes with seven goals to date. One of those was the winner in his club’s shock 1-0 victory at Arsenal earlier this month, a game for which Capello was at the Emirates Stadium.
Newcastle’s concern is perhaps understandable with Shola Ameobi battling the hamstring injury which kept him out of Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Fulham.
Capello has urged Carroll to seize his "big chance" to make the grade with England and reform his life off the field at the same time.
Capello openly admits he had it in mind to select Carroll before now, only to put the plan on hold following discussions with the Football Association and under-21 boss Stuart Pearce, who was not too impressed with the Newcastle star pulling out of matches against Portugal and Lithuania in September.
Similar discussions took place before the Italian named his squad for Wednesday night's friendly with France on Saturday evening. This time the response was positive, and now Carroll has recovered from the groin injury that threatened to rule him out, Capello is hoping the response will be positive in every way.
"It's a big chance, to play with the seniors and to change his lifestyle," said Capello. "I hope that he will understand what really happens when you play with the seniors."
Capello was quick to seize the opportunity to talk with Carroll about football matters when the England squad gathered in Watford on Sunday evening. The Italian also outlined to Carroll why it’s in his best interests to avoid the negative headlines that have appeared far too frequently during his career so far.
"Everyone makes mistakes when they are young," said Capello. "Carroll is really young. He is 21. We have to help him. A lot of people like a drink but he also has to understand now he is in the senior team there will be journalists, photographers and everyone else focusing on him. Life will be different for him now. He has to change. His behaviour has to be better. He cannot make the mistakes he made before."