 ANDY CARROLL will be told to “play it again” next term by Chris Hughton, with a return to pre-season training just six days away. The England Under-21 star was handed a superb incentive to push on for further international honours after the Three Lions’ senior side shamefully bowed out of the World Cup in a horrendous defeat against Germany. The Chronicle reported yesterday how Carroll and the rest of his Under-21 colleagues will be given the chance to fast-track their way into the senior side, with several England players now having kicked their last ball at international level. And this was rubber-stamped in Fabio Capello’s concluding Press conference in South Africa when the Italian said he would be looking to “younger players” ahead of the European Championships in 2012. It is understood that this will remain the policy for the FA, even if they decide to axe the former Real Madrid boss after it emerged they will wait for a fortnight before announcing a decision on his future. Carroll has already been targeted by Scotland after boss Craig Levein publicly declared an interest in luring him north of the border due to his Scottish family links. But Hughton just wants to see more of the same from the Geordie striker who netted 19 goals last season. The Toon boss told the Chronicle today: “The only way he will progress is by doing the things he did last season. “These are the important things for him. “He has to develop as a player and takes the ups and downs. “He’s going into a more difficult league and will face better defenders than he was up against last season.” Hughton would not be drawn into the England v Scotland debate that Carroll finds himself in, but did say: “It’s good that he’s got those options. “For Andy, the fact that people are taking notice of him and that he had that request from Scotland is testament to what he did last season. “The important thing for Andy is that any other issues are exactly that – other issues. It’s important that he develops as a player.” | 
Article
