Carroll facing lengthy lay-off

Andy Carroll is facing a lengthy period on the sidelines after his ankle injury fears were finally confirmed this evening.

Some reports tonight are claiming that he has suffered a hairline fracture and should that be the case then the player is almost certain to be facing surgery.

It all means that the big striker looks set to be out of action for a month to six weeks minimum and having proved to be such a slow healer in the past, nobody will be keen to put a date on his return.

Various ‘papers – which have regularly been  claiming scans have shown nothing – are tonight claiming the problem was only discovered today despite him having been absent for a couple of weeks.

That may be stretching credibility a little too far given that he has been injured since January 4.