CARROLL SERVICE Striker is proving very ‘Andy My Danny joy
STEVE BRUCE can’t stop singing the praises of Newcastle’s very own Carroll service.
His decision to hand fellow Geordie Andy Carroll his first Toon start since December 2010 brought early festive cheer to the resurgent Magpies. Victory at home to Southampton tomorrow could catapult Newcastle into the top six, which would be a remarkable achievement since they were relegation favourites in August. Bruce has yet to decide whether to stick with Carroll, recall record buy Joelinton or go with Dwight Gayle. But whatever the 30-year-old’s fate, his manager believes he has a vital role to play. Against Sheffield United, the striker’s aerial presence helped keep the Blades at bay before he provided the assist for Jonjo Shelvey to seal a 2-0 win.
Bruce feels that even when he’s not in the thick of the action, Carroll plays the right tune. “He does have a presence and it lifts people,” he said. “He has a physicality about him and of course when he’s right, Andy is a very good player.
“Defensively, he would have made an absolutely world-class centre-half in my day because he just goes and heads it clear.
“On Thursday night, he must have had two or three when you think, ‘Terrific, he’s done his job there.’
“We’ve got to look after him but he can be hugely important and a big asset if he stays well.
“That’s the big thing for me, my staff and the medics, to keep him right because when he is, he’ll be a handful for anybody.
“It might be asking too much to play on Sunday but we’ll see how he recovers.”
If Carroll is back on the bench, Gayle remains an option for Bruce, who is adamant the forward will not be sold next month, despite his lack of opportunities.
“Since the day I came in, he’s been knocking on my door constantly,” added Bruce.
“But that’s fine – we have a great relationship and I hope that’s the way he feels about me. I don’t want him to go anywhere.”
SOUTHAMPTON boss Ralph Hasenhuttl says Danny Ings is worth his weight in goals.
In-form striker Ings (inset) has reached double figures this season, including strikes in back-toback wins over Watford and Norwich.
Hasenhuttl is confident Ings can shrug off an injury scare to face Newcastle tomorrow.
He said: “I was a little bit afraid because he had a problem with his hamstring after the Norwich game. With his history, it’s always dangerous.
“He’s had a fantastic season. He’s fit and is working on the pitch and when he gets chances he scores because he is always there.
‘‘He has found his rhythm now and every time he is in the box he is dangerous.
‘‘Even outside the box he is working fantastically for the team.
‘‘This is exactly the Danny Ings we want to see.”