Alan Shearer has welcomed Andy Carroll back to Tyneside after the striker’s return to Newcastle United was confirmed on transfer deadline day.
Newcastle announced via their official Twitter account on Thursday that Carroll, 30, has agreed an initial one-year deal at St James’ Park following his release from West Ham at the end of last season.
Magpies legend Shearer was quick to respond to the news via his personal Twitter account.
“Welcome back in the Toon big man. Good luck,” he said.
OPINION
It remains to be seen how much of an impact that Carroll will have in his second spell at St James’ Park. He spent a lot of his spell at West Ham on the sidelines as he suffered multiple injuries. According to transfermarkt, Carroll missed well over 100 matches for the London club due to injury and he won’t even be able to play for Newcastle for a few weeks as he is currently recovering from an ankle injury. Newcastle reportedly ensured that Carroll was on a pay as you play deal, which is good for the club because there is little risk involved in this transfer. It should also motivate Carroll to stay fit, but the striker is not going to need any extra motivation to play for his boyhood club. Joelinton will no doubt be ahead of him in the pecking order up front but the second-choice striker spot is up for grabs. Dwight Gayle is probably second-choice right now but his Premier League goalscoring record is widely known to be not that great.
