Nolan has Carroll singing blues

May 24 2009 by Neil Farrington, Sunday Sun

NEWCASTLE striker Andy Carroll will miss the start of pre-season training this summer – thanks to team-mate Kevin Nolan.

Carroll has learned his ankle ligament injury, inflicted by a challenge from Nolan in training last week, will sideline him for 10 weeks.

And it has cost the Gateshead-born target man a call-up to the England squad for next month’s European Under-21 Championship finals.

More immediately, Carroll’s absence could be keenly felt by Newcastle in the battle for Premier League survival at Aston Villa today.

The 20-year-old has been highly effective when thrown on by Alan Shearer as an impact substitute in recent weeks

And the absence of Michael Owen at Villa Park would only have increased the likelihood of the youngster being called on again in United’s hour of greatest need.

Owen, Newcastle’s skipper, has almost certainly played his last game for the club after being ruled out of Survival Sunday by a groin problem.

It would mark the end of an infuriating four seasons at St James’s Park for the former England striker, who is out of contract at the end of June.

Owen has made just 78 appearances, and just 65 starts, out of the 182 games played by United since his arrival from Real Madrid.

He has scored 30 goals for the Magpies, but that represents a miniscule return on their investment in him.

As well as a £16 million fee, Owen has earned as much as £21m in wages, costing United around £1.2m per goal or roughly £470,000 per game.