I'll change what people say of me

Posted Monday, November 15, 2010 by The Sun

ANDY CARROLL has told how he went on an emotional rollercoaster after being picked for England.
The Newcastle striker was thrilled to get his first call-up from Fabio Capello for Wednesday's friendly against France.

But, in the back of his mind, he feared the worst having felt his groin go in the dying minutes of Newcastle's game against Fulham on Saturday.

Carroll said: "There had been a lot of hints that I would get in the England squad and when I got told officially on Saturday night it was the best feeling in the world.

"But then the prospect of having to pull out felt like the worst feeling in the world."

Capello was set to throw Carroll in from the start against the French, making his injury all the more galling.

The player, who has impressed with seven Premier League strikes already this term, added: "I don't know what the manager's plans were for me.

"All I wanted was to get involved and show what I could do."

Carroll recalled the moment he realised he might miss out on his dream.

He explained: "I just felt a twinge in the groin as we were pushing forward to try and get a goal but I don't really know how it happened.

"I saw the doctor after the match and it was decided to have another look at it on Sunday lunchtime.

"I hoped that if I got a good night's sleep I might wake up and it would feel better because that's happened before.

"It felt worse when I got up but improved during the day."

Carroll travelled to England's training camp at The Grove in Watford last night and will have a scan today.

He had angered Under-21 boss Stuart Pearce when he pulled out of his squad for the Portugal and Lithuania matches in September through injury without reporting for duty.

That decision cost Carroll a call-up for the Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro and he was not going to make the same mistake again.

Carroll's selection had attracted much debate in the country due to a number of off-field misdemeanours.

The joke was he would be turning up at England HQ in an Eddie Stobart truck rather than a luxury limo due to the amount of baggage he carries with him.

Carroll is aware there is a lot of scrutiny on him and knows he has to try and keep himself off the front pages.

He said: "There's been a lot said about me off the pitch and I want to change that round.

"I want people to be talking about what I do on the pitch.

"I think I deserved the call-up. I've been doing well this season and I've got seven goals in the league.

"Plenty of opposition players and managers have said good things about how I play.

"If I keep my good form going I hope the England manager will be picking me again.

"I really believe I can score goals for England and I want the chance to prove it."

The Newcastle No 9 announced himself to Premier League audiences with a hat-trick in the Toon's first home game against Aston Villa.

Further goals against Wolves and West Ham followed. While in the past week the clamour to put Carroll in an England shirt grew even louder as he netted against Arsenal and Blackburn.

Carroll added: "Last season when I got 19 goals as we won promotion back to the Premier League, people were saying I could only do it in the Championship and that they'd find out what I was about when I was playing regularly in the Premier League.

"Well I think I've shown I can do it in the top division and I'm convinced I can do it as an international as well.

"I'm not afraid of playing for England, I see it as a great challenge and if I miss out this time it will just make me more determined to get in the squad the next time."