Sam Allardyce could solve his striking headache by using Andy Carroll as a regular super-sub this season.
The manager has regularly made it clear he won’t be rushing the record signing back into action and that he is on a six week “pre-season” programme.
And that has led to suggestions that Allardyce is playing a canny game which is aimed at keeping the Geordie 100 per cent focused and injury free as n off the bench performer.
Already the manager has told the player he needs to calm down his frantic playing style which may have contributed to his injury problems.
Carroll responded by making it clear that he would find that very difficult and Allardyce therefore seems ready to take the decision on himself and perhaps protect the player from himself!.
Speaking recently he said;:”It is me saying ‘You are in pre-season. If I put you on any sooner or quicker and you get injured again, that will be my fault not yours and I’m not prepared to do that.
Slowly and surely with Andy – we’ll judge it week by week!”
With Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho in such great form Allardyce has no reason to rush the Carroll situation and a six week pre-season would take him up to Christmas anyway.
And one source told ClaretandHugh: “Sam is going to treat the Andy situation with great caution. Nobody would be surprised to see him used as a super-impact sub for the remainder of the season.”
