Newcastle fans were given plenty of transfer activity over the summer, but one deal that really caught the eye was the return of Andy Carroll, BBC. The former Liverpool and West Ham man made his return to St. James’ Park eight and a half years after he first left in January 2011.
The 30-year-old target-man is currently out injured and is yet to play since re-signing for the Magpies, but Steve Bruce has now claimed, in his press conference this morning, that the big striker is close to fitness and should be near ready to play by the international break.
With Joelinton and Yoshinori Muto currently the only fit options at Newcastle, having another striker available will come as a huge boost. As things stand Steve Bruce has been using a 5-4-1 formation, but with more options up front that could be set to change.
Using two-upfront isn’t a safe option when you only have two fit strikers, but when Carroll is back the tactical flexibility that it will give Bruce is a bonus in itself. That’s before you factor in that the St. James’ Park crowd will also have a veteran striker with 53 Premier League goals to his name back in the side, Transfermarkt.
As well as bagging 53 top-flight goals, the striker has got a top record in the colours of Newcastle in all competitions. His 17-goal season in the Championship back in the 2009/10 season help make up the 33 goals that he’s previously bagged for the club, and now he can finally start adding to that figure again.
It may be a couple of weeks before the fans get to see Carroll back in the starting eleven, but when he does get the nod he will certainly be a boost, with his aerial presence and hold-up play will certainly help, and he could be what the likes of Miguel Almiron and Allan Saint-Maximin need to get going in the Northeast.