It’s not Andy Carroll’s fault that he is not up to playing in the Premier League regularly, it is his body’s.
Nevertheless, if his alleged wages are true, then the club are in no position to be handing him another contract out of sympathy.
According to the Chronicle, it is ‘understood’ that the 31-year-old’s contract will be extended by another year if the player reaches 20 appearances for the club. So far, Carroll has played 14 times this season.
Unless Bruce really has to play him due to injuries, then they should steer clear of featuring him more than five times, as they simply could be spending those wages a lot better as this season has proved.
Steve Bruce has already discussed the horrid luck he has had in his career, but it is not the club’s responsibility to try and offer him another chance in the Premier League beyond this season, as they have already had a roll of the dice.
In fact, for the games that he has played, he has looked dedicated, impactful and even threatening at times, chipping in with three assists from just 508 minutes in the Premier League. But the way in which he has taken an age to recover from what seemed like a short term injury underpins the main concern in signing him – he can’t stay fit.
Should we allow Andy Carroll to reach 20 appearances?
Yes
No
Unsure
It speaks volumes that if he doesn’t reach 20 games, the main cause will be because he couldn’t reach it due to injuries, rather than not being up to it performatively.
With reports in the Guardian suggesting that the forward earns £20,000 per week as a base rate, before going up to around £75,000 for when he starts and £35,000 for when he is on the bench, he just simply isn’t good enough value and it should be spent elsewhere.
He is either getting paid £20,000 a week to not be good enough to make the bench or be injured and earns a whopping £75,000 a week for when he starts, which at 31, he simply isn’t good enough to justify.
It might not be the nicest things to hear or do for a player who always gives his all and is an academy graduate, but it is the sensible, pragmatic option. Newcastle should spend that money better in the summer.