Newcastle made a gamble to bring Andy Carroll back to the club and it simply hasn’t worked out for either the player or the club according to Danny Mills.
We also spent big to improve the attack with the addition of £40m Joelinton, who has proved a disaster with two league goals, which indicates that Steve Bruce’s tactics have played a significant role.
A return of 25 goals in 29 league games is further evidence of that. As a result, Carroll entered a difficult situation, but his lack of fitness has played a part once again and reduced the striker to just four league starts this campaign.
He has had a minimal impact when he has featured, too, scoring no goals and making just four assist in his 14 appearances, and that means Mills is right to suggest he should be moved on.
Should Andy Carroll be given a new contract?
Yes
No
The former West Ham man simply isn’t worth his wage if Bruce can’t trust him to start over the misfiring Brazilian, and therefore we need to bring in a replacement who would offer real competition,
Speaking about the possibility of the £3.6m-rated Carroll being offered a new contract, Mills told Football Insider:
“It is very unlikely. He has not been fit enough this season. What is the point in having him around? He has hardly been available, let alone been on the pitch.
“It is one person that they do not need. He will be on a basic wage, it will not be just a pay-as-you-play. You may as well spend that on somebody else.
“Carroll may have to look somewhere like the MLS because he is just not fit enough. As great as he can be, his body is not up to it right now. He may even think about retirement but only Andy Carroll will know that.”
It is a shame things haven’t worked out as planned as we all would have hoped for a triumphant return for the 31-year-old, and it is sad that his career has petered out due, in part, to factors beyond his control.
There is a suggestion to be made that he could offer a Plan B option next term, having averaged 5.8 aerial dues won per game this season, but in order to advance we need more well-rounded options up-front.
Unless we can secure him on a pay-as-you-play deal there is little point in keeping him around, as Mills is right in suggesting that those wages could be better spent elsewhere.