Kevin Nolan rues missed Andy Carroll opportunity at Newcastle United

Kevin Nolan has admitted he "loved" playing with Andy Carroll at Newcastle United[1]. The duo only spent two years together on Tyneside but struck up a potent partnership for the Magpies. It was in the Championship where Carroll fully announced himself to English football, bagging 17 goals in a coming-of-age campaign to get Newcastle back into the Premier League.

Nolan - who also netted 17 times to be named the division's Player of the Year - wore the captain's armband for most of that season when Nicky Butt or Alan Smith were sidelined. Their partnership continued in the top flight, with a 6-0 win over Aston Villa in the opening home game followed by the iconic 5-1 battering against Sunderland[2]. Chris Hughton unearthed a direct system which played to Carroll's and Nolan's strengths, who also briefly lived with each other.

However, the love affair was torn apart when Liverpool stumped up a then British record GBP35million to snatch Carroll in January. Nolan ultimately became the Magpies' focal point in attack for the remainder of the campaign and, for Carroll, the Reds move never worked out. Speaking to talkSPORT, Nolan opened up about their partnership, which was rekindled at West Ham United years later.

He said: "You couldn't class him (Carroll) as quiet, but he's a great lad. I have some fantastic stories. Some good ones and some not-so-good ones!

"I loved playing with him. Our record together, I wish we could have played for a long time. When he went to Liverpool, we were on fire at Newcastle.

That season I ended up scoring 12 goals but we were quite a formidable partnership. "We got on off the pitch. I was sort of like a big brother to him.

He lived with me for a couple of months. Every now and then we'll meet up and grab some food. I remember sometimes looking at defenders and thinking 'Oh I feel sorry for him'.

He was a tank, 6ft 4in, built as lean as anything but solid as a rock."

References

1. ^ Newcastle United (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
2. ^ Sunderland (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
3. ^ Newcastle United fanbase's loyalty gesture that Eddie Howe will never forget (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
4. ^ Newcastle CEO Darren Eales' fresh St James' Park expansion update & how fans will determine future (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)