Carroll’s return is so Andy
Olivier’s decision was heaven sent
ANDY CARROLL is in line for a key role when Newcastle resume their Premier League campaign against Sheffield United at St James’ Park later this month.
The big striker has not figured since January and Toon chief Steve Bruce admitted before football shut down that the problem, which has kept him sidelined for most of the year, had not been diagnosed.
But fears that he may not kick another ball this season have been allayed.
Carroll has continued to work hard on his fitness during lockdown and is now set to figure in the Magpies’ remaining games this season.
Bruce and his coaching staff have been delighted with the 31-year-old’s form in training, with the Geordie hitman taking a full part in contact games.
And crucially he has reported no reaction to the hip injury which he sustained over the busy festive programme.
Now the Newcastle manager is ready to hand Carroll a place on the bench when he picks his first squad since March.
BRIGHTON look set to miss out on Rennes striker M’baye Niang after Marseille entered talks to sign him.
Niang, who enjoyed a loan spell with Watford in 2017, has been on Brighton’s radar for weeks.
The Senegal star, 25, scored 15 goals in 36 games in France this season and recently admitted he was flattered by interest from England.
But Marseille are now favourites to land the £15m-rated hitman after offering him a five-year deal.
Brighton have asked to be kept informed of developments as the two clubs have yet to agree a fee, while the Seagulls have a long list of potential targets to fall back on.
OLIVIER GIROUD says divine intervention combined with the coronavirus convinced him to stay at Chelsea.
Giroud agreed terms with Inter Milan in January but Blues boss Frank Lampard vetoed the move because he couldn’t sign a replacement.
The France World Cup winner slowly played his way back into favour after that, with Chelsea offering him a new one-year contract.
Giroud wanted two and talks looked on the verge of collapse at one point, with Inter favourites to sign him on a free this summer.
But the 33-year-old striker eventually decided to stay, and says lockdown helped to finally change his mind about leaving.
Giroud said: “I very nearly left the club but I really think that God wanted me to stay at Chelsea. I like it here. I want to keep winning trophies and I want to continue to show the manager that he can count on me.
“Plus, with the whole coronavirus lockdown situation, I didn’t really feel comfortable with the idea of moving abroad and uprooting my family.
“I think a lot about our quality of life and we have a great set-up here. I think a lot about my family now.”
Giroud still faces a battle for playing time at Stamford Bridge, with the club looking for another front man to compete with him and Tammy Abraham.
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But he has always been popular at Chelsea, with Lampard full of praise for his professionalism.
His bags were packed in January before the club suddenly reversed their decision to sell. However, the former Arsenal star never complained.
Giroud added: “I was supposed to leave in January because I wasn’t playing much and I needed more game time to make the France squad for Euro 2020.
“The manager told me that he couldn’t let me leave because he didn’t have anyone to replace me.
“Everyone knows what happened so I won’t go back over it but the coach 23 5 96 12 154 269 117 157 spoke to me privately and told me that he’d give me more games.
“He kept his word and what then mattered to me was proving to him that he could count on me when I was called upon.”
Giroud scored twice in four games – against Champions League challengers Tottenham and then Everton – before the season was suspended.
He said: “I simply seized my opportunity and I repaid the faith that the manager had shown in me.
“That’s why the club, ultimately, offered me the chance to continue my time at Chelsea and I accepted.”