Noel Whelan has been blown away by Newcastle United forward Andy Carroll after his performance in the 2-0 win against Sheffield United on Thursday.
The BBC pundit claimed that the 30-year-old is a great weapon for Steve Bruce to have this season after starting his first game for the Magpies in almost 10 years at Brammall Lane.
Whelan admitted that there aren’t many players like Carroll left in the Premier League anymore and that he can cause problems for any team from set-pieces and crosses.
He’s a great weapon for the football club to have,” he told Football Insider.
“There are not many players like him these days in the Premier League, he is going to cause a completely different kind of problem for defenders and teams when it comes to set-pieces and balls from wide areas.
Carroll claimed his first assist of the season against Sheffield United, heading on for Jonjo Shelvey to seal all three points in South Yorkshire.
OPINION
The difference in the final third on Thursday compared to the rest of the season was huge. Carroll offered so much more than Joelinton had been doing before and caused constant problems for the Blades’ defence who simply couldn’t handle him. The South American had been struggling to hold up the ball and create chances, so it was a smart call by Bruce to bring in Carroll. The 30-year-old won nine aerial battles in the game according to WhoScored and was a nuisance in both boxes for Bruce’s men. Joelinton needed that break, and Carroll returning to fitness now gives the Magpies two powerful options up front, which takes so much pressure off the Brazilian. Newcastle will need both of their forwards between now and the end of the season, and Whelan is spot on, Carroll is the perfect weapon to have, whether starting or coming off the bench.
