Carroll: I'm not just a No.9

Andy Carroll is desperate to prove that he is more than
just an archetypal No.9.
The 22-year-old has all the power and aerial
prowess of those who have traditionally worn nine
on their back down the years - but he hopes to
show Liverpool fans that there is far more in his
locker.
"There's more to me than that," Carroll told
FourFourTwo magazine.
"I'd like to think I create a lot of goals and chances. I
work hard, I'm not selfish in front of goal, and if
someone is in a better position I'm happy to pass."
Anyone who saw Carroll's first England goal last
week - an instinctive blast along the turf to beat
Ghana goalkeeper Richard Kingson - won't need too
much convincing of his ability on the ball.
That said, there is no denying that one of his main assets is
heading.
Liverpool and Newcastle legend Kevin Keegan once described
Carroll as 'Probably in the top three headers of a ball I have ever
seen in football.'
The man himself admits his talent is no accident.
"I remember when I was younger, my dad would never forget to
throw the ball up and make me head it before training," said
Carroll.
"Every day I would drag him out with a ball as soon as he came
home from work. My parents have never forced me into anything
but they've given me everything I wanted and needed."
Carroll came to the attention of Liverpool fans when he scored
against us in the 2007 FA Youth Cup.
However, the Gateshead-born striker made his first impact on
English football much earlier than that - back when he was a ball
boy at St James' Park.
"I was 12 and there was one game when I threw the ball back
quickly, the throw got taken and we scored," he explained. "I told
everyone I set it up. Duncan Ferguson scored it, but it was my
assist. The Premier League didn't credit me, though!"
A record transfer to Liverpool in January meant Carroll had to
leave his native north-east - and while new players often talk
about how comfortable they are in their new surroundings, our
No.9 really means it.
"It's nice," he said. "I've got a place and I'm settling in well. A lot of
my friends at Newcastle - Kevin Nolan, Joey Barton, Ryan Taylor -
are Scousers and all their families and friends were always up at
Newcastle so they became my mates. It's just like being at home.
"There are lots of similarities between the cities and they're both
passionate about their teams."
One of key attractions for Carroll in moving to Merseyside was his
belief that Liverpool are building a side capable of winning major
honours.
"I think I can help Liverpool win things," he said. "I don't know
what we can achieve this season; I'm just concentrating on getting
in the team.
"Where do I see myself in five years' time? Hopefully playing for
England and winning things at Liverpool."
You can read the full interview with Suarez in this month's
FourFourTwo magazine.
Author: Jimmy Rice