HORROR INJURY REAL BRAD LUCK
Andy goes to top of Toon tree as boss Bruce tempts him with new contract
ANDY CARROLL is closing in on a new one-year contract at Newcastle.
The 30-year-old Geordie is currently on a 12-month deal based on his appearance record due to his poor medical history.
And while the club wants to keep details of a new contract confidential, Toon chief Steve Bruce admits the striker is on track to trigger it.
Carroll has been involved in 12 Premier League games so far this season, having started three this month – setting up goals in two of them.
But it is understood he has to figure in more than 20 games for the clause in his existing deal to kick in.
And while Carroll is unlikely to start both the Boxing Day trip to Manchester United and the home game against Everton on Saturday, he is now an integral part of Bruce’s plans.
“We will be delighted to tie Andy up,” said the Newcastle boss. “It’s just a case of him staying fit. That’s the big thing, and it’s a shame injuries have blighted his career.”
Owner Mike Ashley has been reluctant to hand out contracts to players of Carroll’s age but had no hesitation in bringing him home after West Ham released the big striker in the summer.
And he will prolong Carroll’s second spell at St James’ Park if the second half of his season proves as successful as the first.
“Let’s hope he stays well because of his influence both on and off the pitch,” added Bruce.
“People gravitate towards him because of who he is and what he is, and he knows what it means to play for this club.
“It was a no-brainer him coming back. We all saw the value in what was practically a pay-as-you-play deal.
“I’m delighted with the impact he’s made on the pitch but even before that, as soon as he went into the dressing room, you could see players respond to him.”
Newcastle head to Old Trafford in ninth place and on the same points tally as Bruce’s former club, but he knows performances must improve.
“The next step is we need to take care of the ball better,” he said. “But sometimes a good team spirit and organisation are more important than stats.
“We’ve got to move forward first. We had to make ourselves hard to break down and beat, which we’ve done.”
Championship
BLACKBURN were left to count the cost of their derby stalemate with leading scorer Bradley Dack carried off on a stretcher for Tony Mowbray’s play-off hopefuls.
The nine-goal striker (right) twisted his knee awkwardly after 65 minutes in an innocuous challenge as Rovers struggled to break down the Championship’s bottom team.
Blackburn’s frustrations could have been eased in the 73rd minute when Dack’s replacement Lewis Holtby sprinted upfield and swung over an excellent centre which Danny Graham headed against the Wigan bar from six yards.
And in a grandstand finish, at both ends, Rovers goalkeeper Christian Walton had to be alert to stop Sam Morsy’s shot and Cedric Kipre’s header in quick succession.
Rovers also had late chances with Joe Rothwell’s long-distance blast being palmed over by Jamie Jones before the Wigan keeper kept out Darragh Lenihan’s header.
NEMANJA MATIC and Marcos Rojo have been told they can leave Manchester United in next month’s transfer window. Midfielder Matic (above right) and defender Rojo (above left) have no longterm future under boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Serbia international Matic, 31, has become a squad player following the emergence of Scott McTominay and Fred as Solskjaer’s first-choice central midfield pairing. Two Premier League clubs have expressed an interest in signing him. Argentina international Rojo, 29, was a target for Everton last season – and several clubs abroad have enquired about him.
He has fallen behind Luke Shaw, Brandon Williams and Ashley Young in terms of the left-back position and is keen to move in January.