Bruce in for Andy

NEWCASTLE UNITED are ready to hand Andy Carroll a sensational lifeline.

Carroll (above) is a free agent, with West Ham deciding not to renew his contract after he underwent surgery in April following a season ravaged by injuries.

But we understand that new Newcastle manager Steve Bruce is

monitoring the 30-year-old’s rehabilitation.

And Bruce (right) is looking into the possibility of offering Carroll a pay-as-you-play deal in a bid to add some attacking options to his undermanned attack.

Carroll, born in Gateshead, has been training with West Ham in a bid to get himself back into playing condition. He scored just one goal in 14 appearances for the Irons last season.

And in the last three years with them, he has scored only 11 times in 54 matches, as injury issues have derailed a career that promised so much when he broke through at St James’ Park as a teenager. Newcastle have lost forwards Ayoze Perez, Salomon Rondon and Joselu in a summer when manager Rafa Benitez’s contract was not renewed.

And Newcastle’s Chinese fans left owner Mike Ashley in no doubt that he is as reviled in the Far East as he is in the North East.

Ashley was the target of obscene chants from local supporters – despite a first-half strike from Japanese striker Yoshinori Muto, getting Bruce’s reign off to a winning start and ensuring the Magpies finished third in the Premier League Asia Trophy. Bruce watched on from the stands alongside coaches Steve Agnew and Stephen Clemence because he arrived in China on a 72-hour visitors’ visa that prevents him from working.

Coach Ben Dawson, who put Newcastle’s players through their paces while the club lined up a new boss, said: “Steve has obviously given the players some focus and direction.”

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