Andy Carroll - Best Striker in the World

[Arn]

Andy Carroll in line to make his Liverpool debut against Manchester United next month
By Dominic King

Andy Carroll is on course to make his Liverpool debut in the Anfield showdown with Manchester United next month.

The £35million striker stepped up his rehabilitation from a thigh problem at Liverpool's Melwood training base last week, when he was allowed to start light jogging.

The club have been determined not to put any unnecessary pressure on Carroll and have set no strict deadlines for when they expect to see him play again.

But the England forward, 22, has pleased Liverpool's medical staff since he joined on transfer deadline day and it is now a matter of deciding in which game it will be suitable to unleash him.

If all goes to plan, Carroll will face Sir Alex Ferguson's title favourites on March 6. But if Liverpool make it through their Europa League round of 32 tie with Sparta Prague, they could hold him back until March 10 for a last-16 clash against Lech Poznan or Braga.

Carroll will stay on Merseyside this week to continue his fitness regime while Kenny Dalglish takes his squad to Prague, and he will be joined by Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez, who is ineligible for the Europa League.

Carroll and Suarez have the potential to be one of the most exciting partnerships in the Barclays Premier League and Liverpool vice-captain Jamie Carragher believes it shows the club mean business once again.

'I was delighted to get them in and the club made a statement,' he said. 'Suarez has made a great start. With Carroll coming back, it looks the perfect partnership.'

Clicky

[BigChief]

F&ck the europa league, Carroll needs to block-stop manure's number 19. And Kenny knows this more than anyone!

[Rudo]

F&ck the europa league, Carroll needs to block-stop manure's number 19. And Kenny knows this more than anyone!

Just about to type something similar,hold him back for a Europa League tie(if we make it through)...bloody hell

[greystoneslfc]

Not bothered if Utd win 19 this season. Coz we'll win the next five!

[Rich]

You honestly think if we beat United at Anfield it'll stop them winning the title?

Unless they spectacularly fall apart then it will be their 19th this season.

[Nick77]

You honestly think if we beat United at Anfield it'll stop them winning the title?.

Well it would help wouldn't it?

[Rich]

Well of course it would help but I think we should probably accept that the title is there for United.

While 4th place would be great for us (considering) our only chance of silverware is the Europa League and I'd like us to win it. We've won nothing since 2006 and that's just too long.

[anfieldanfield]

You honestly think if we beat United at Anfield it'll stop them winning the title?

Unless they spectacularly fall apart then it will be their 19th this season.

It's not over yet.

If we take points of the mancs then it's on again.

They still have to play Chelsea twice and Arsenal.

[Rudo]

Well it would help wouldn't it?

[Arn]

Jamie Carragher believes that Liverpool new boy Andy Carroll strikes fear into his opponents.

The 22-year-old forward joined the Merseyside outfit in the January transfer window, after the Reds agreed to cough up £35 million to Newcastle United in exchange for the services of the hitman.

"We've had big tall lads, people like Heskey or Crouch, who have done very well for us," Carragher told LFC Weekly.

"But Carroll has that aggression that makes defenders fear him. He seems like a good lad - someone who'll fit in.

"As a defender you know when you go into certain games against particular players that you're going to have a hard day. There aren't too many of them but I know few people will relish playing against Andy.

"You wake up in the morning and think, 'Ah God - I don't want to play against him.' Everyone who has faced him probably thinks, 'I don't need this today.'"

The arrival of Carroll and Luis Suarez also saw the departure of former fans' favourite Fernando Torres, whose transfer to Chelsea has seen his image on Merseyside take a battering.

"It's two players for one if you like," Carragher said. "They can become a partnership and bring other things to the team as a target man [Carroll] and someone who can feed off the pieces [Luis Suarez]. Likewise if one is injured, the other is still capable of playing on their own through the middle."

Carroll, however, is currently recovering from a thigh injury, and earlier reports point towards a March return for the forward.

Clicky

[Lecter]

Getty Images have more photos of Carroll training today (ballwork & running)

He must have come through his sessions of last week without any reaction

[Icon]

LFC.TV Images

Is Spearing related to Simon Pegg..?

[Drago]

Looks more like the wee alien out of his new film tbh.

[Lecter]

LFC.TV Images

Is Spearing related to Simon Pegg..?

No but he can trace his ancestry back to the Oompaloompahs and the Munchkins

[Red_Polo]

He said in a recent interview that he was helping Suarez with the language as he speaks Spanish

Sammy is fluent in Spanish and Kenny actually speaks a smatterring of Spanish also

Cheers

I knew about Sammy learning Spanish at Osasuna, had no idea about Kenny though, or Meireles. Clever fookers! Trying to learn it myself at the moment, am getting some funny looks walking down the street with my headphones in, repeating random Spanish phrases as I go