ANDY CARROLL has offered to play centre-back for Newcastle when they face Brighton tomorrow.
The ex-Liverpool and West Ham striker has shaken off a hamstring injury to be fit for the clash at the Amex.
Andy Carroll has offered to play centre-back for Newcastle amid an injury crisis at centre-back
But with the Magpies suffering an injury crisis in the centre of defence, Carroll has put his name forward to cover at the back.
Newcastle manager Steve Bruce said: “He’s okay. He could play.
“Andy reminded me he has played centre-half before!
“It was a long, long time ago. I think he started as a left-back.
“So Andy looks okay for Monday.”
Newcastle will be without centre-backs Fabian Schar, Jamaal Lascelles, Ciaran Clark and Florian Lejeune against Brighton.
That leaves just Federico Fernandez as Newcastle’s only senior centre-half.
Bruce acknowledged he may have to use right-back Emil Krafth in the middle.
As well as their four missing centre-backs, Isaac Hayden, Sean Longstaff, Paul Dummett and Allan Saint-Maximin are all doubtful.
“Most people accept you’re going to have one or two or three [injuries], but seven or eight is a huge number,” Bruce added.
“But we have to get on with it.
“We knew there were going to be difficulties ahead, but not to this severity.
“We’ve had probably too many, so we will look and I will ask the question: ‘Is there anything we can do to improve?’
“We’ve had far too many, especially when we’re playing Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday – we can’t seem to cope.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
