Carroll more crocked than we thought
Posted on January 27th, 2011 | 16 Comments |
Apparently Andy Carroll is off to Sweden tomorrow to seek specialist help for his thigh from a world-reknowned doctor (world-reknowned to those who know him well, that is). Carroll is definitely ruled out of the Fulham game and is extremely doubtful for the Arsenal game too.
Alan Pardew said:
“We brought him to Portugal to start running and the disappointing news is that he hasn’t.
“His injury is in the muscle just above the thigh – an area that doesn’t get great circulation so doesn’t heal very quickly.
“We’re going to send him to someone who’s the world’s best thigh repair expert. This guy is in the arctic end of Sweden and he’ll be flying out on Friday and we’re hoping he’ll be able to turn him around quickly.
“He’s definitely out of Fulham and probably Arsenal too. There has to be no doubt (when he returns).“
This is of course not good news, particularly on the back of Carroll’s optimistic prognosis of earlier this week.
Unless we bring another striker in before the transfer window closes, I would anticipate Pardew sticking with Shola and Best up front with substitute appearances from Ranger and Lovenkrands as necessary.
Another option would be to play Nolan off a striker as Chris Hughton did on occasion. Or possibly Stephen Ireland, who has been strongly linked with a move to our club, although Newcastle and Villa are said to be ‘miles apart’ in their negotiations for the attacking midfielder.
We can cope just be an even better side wen he and the others come back