In the spotlight

Former England captain Alan Shearer feels young Andy Carroll is in the right hands under Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish.

Alan Shearer is backing Andy Carroll to show Liverpool and England fans the “fearsome centre-forward” that persuaded the Reds to pay Newcastle a club-record GBP35 million for his services once he settles down at Anfield.

Carroll, 22, has found himself in the spotlight recently after struggling for goals at the start of the Barclays English Premier League season and following comments by England coach Fabio Capello about his lifestyle.

However, Shearer believes his fellow Geordie — who netted his first league goal of the campaign in the derby win over Everton before heading off to international duty — will come good, and feels he is in the right hands under Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish.

Former England captain Shearer, who played under Dalglish at Blackburn and also briefly managed Carroll at Newcastle, told several national newspapers: “Andy is a young and inexperienced lad with a lot of pressure on him but he will come good. Yes, there will be times when people question him but he's at the right club. At Anfield, he's got a great manager who understands the trials and tribulations of being a young footballer.

“When I moved to Blackburn, I had great guidance there and that was Kenny. Kenny will protect him and look after him as he did me at Blackburn. He did that in a fantastic way. Once he settles down, starts to play well and score, you will see the fearsome centre-forward that we saw at Newcastle and you'll see the reason why Kenny paid GBP35 million for him. Andy is talented. He is a nightmare for defenders to play against if given the right service and if he is fit enough.”

Shearer also feels Carroll can shine for England, with whom the 6ft 4in striker has netted once in three appearances so far.

“I do see him as an England centre-forward. One hundred per cent. Wayne Rooney will always be number one. Andy can be his partner and he will be. I definitely look at Andy with England as a long-term thing,” said Shearer.

Regarding Capello's comments about Carroll's lifestyle, the 41-year-old Shearer added: “I was slightly surprised he came out and said that. If that were me, I wouldn't have been happy. He (Capello) had his own reasons. I've been brought up with managers who tried to keep things in-house.”

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