Carroll 'devastated' at England blow
ANDY Carroll has opened his heart about the injury which looks set to force him out of England's squad.
Carroll earned his first senior call-up after a blistering start to the season, Fabio Capello selecting him for Wednesday's friendly against France at Wembley.
But the 21-year-old suffered a groin injury late in Saturday's goalless draw with Fulham at St James's Park, and the odds are seemingly stacked against him playing any part, with Carlton Cole having been called up as cover.
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"I'll be devastated if I have to pull out – it's been my dream to play for England," said seven-goal Carroll.
"I just felt a twinge in the groin as we were pushing forward to try to get a goal, but I don't really know how it happened.
"I saw the doctor after the match, and it was decided to have another look at it on Sunday. I hoped that if I got a good night's sleep, I might wake up and it would feel better, because that's happened before.
"It felt worse when I got up, but improved during the day.
"There had been a lot of hints that I would get in the England squad, and when I got told on Saturday night, it was the best feeling in the world.
"But the prospect of having to pull out felt like the worst feeling in the world."
Carroll, however, knows his chance will come again if he does return to Tyneside later today after being assessed by England's medical team.
"Plenty of opposition players and managers have said good things about how I play," added the Gateshead-born player, pictured. "If I keep my good form going, I hope the England manager will be picking me again.
"I really believe I can score goals for England, and I want the chance to prove it.
"There's been a lot said about me off the pitch, and I want to change that round. I want people to be talking about what I do on the pitch.
"I think I deserved the call-up. I've been doing well this season, and I've got seven goals in the league.
"I think I've shown I can do it in the top division, and I'm convinced I can do it as an international as well.
"I'm not afraid of playing for England – I see it as a great challenge – and if I miss out this time, it will just make me more determined to get in the squad the next time."
Newcastle manager Chris Hughton, meanwhile, doesn't want any risks taken with Carroll, despite the striker's understandable keenness to get his senior international career up and running.
Hughton was without his fellow forward Shola Ameobi (hamstring) for the Fulham game, and his first priority is having the strongest possible team available to him at Bolton Wanderers on Saturday.
"He has gone and joined the England squad to be assessed by them as well, but it was certainly unlikely that he will be staying there," said Hughton.
"The most important thing for us is of course him playing in a black and white strip. We have got to make sure that we look after him this week to give him any chance of the weekend.
"That will be assessed over the next couple of days. Possibly, he'll have that chance, but maybe not."
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Monday 21 May 2012
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