Four years after he last played for his country, the West Ham forward’s swashbuckling presence makes him an irresistible choice for Gareth Southgate
There was a genuine tremor of excitement this week at the news Gareth Southgate is planning to go to the London Stadium on Saturday to take a first-hand look at the irresistible, intoxicating Andy Carroll. England have a double-header against Germany and Slovakia coming up in March. Carroll last played for England four years ago. He is – cautiously, baby‑steps – in a rich goalscoring seam. And for all the injuries, the lost years, the sense of talent unexpressed, he remains a strangely compelling and persuasive presence.
On Thursday Slaven Bilic slipped his own neutral gear briefly, lowering his head to the press conference desk, inhaling a great, gasping, sinus-splitting gulp of uncut flying head-thump power and announced that Carroll would on current form improve not just England but also Spain, Croatia, and any team in the world.
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