Carroll reveals he tried for years to get a move back to Newcastle United

Andy Carroll has revealed that he had been trying for years to get a move back to Newcastle United.

The striker re-signed for his hometown club in August, eight years after leaving for Liverpool in a British record £35 million deal.

Carroll then spent seven seasons at West Ham before being released in the summer, joining the Magpies on a free transfer on deadline day.

He had to wait four months for his first start during last week's 2-0 win at Sheffield United and he was man-of-the-match after coming from the bench to inspire Sunday's 2-1 victory over Southampton.

And Carroll says he appreciates the second chance with his boyhood team, especially having longed for that opportunity for several years.

'Honest to God, I've been trying to come back and wanting to come back for years,' said the 30-year-old.

'I would have regretted it if I didn't get to step on the pitch in the black and white again.

'Making my debut, starting the other day, creating goals, winning games, I appreciate it a lot more.

'I didn't really get the chance to appreciate it the first time. I just kind of thought everyone got that chance at 17 (years old). I didn't really understand it as much as I do now.

'Coming back, it's a massive club, massive stadium, massive fans. It's part of me growing up. I never really appreciated it as much as I do now.'

Steve Bruce says he will manage Carroll's fitness - he had surgery on a longstanding ankle injury in March - and the head coach's decision to introduce him after an hour against Southampton proved a match-winning one.

And Carroll added: 'It was hard when the ankle was playing up, but as you can see it's the same size as the other one - when in the past it hasn't been! So it's feeling good.

'I like to get myself about so it's been tough when I haven't been mobile and been a bit stiff. But I'm protecting myself through the week in training, with the manager helping with the days and what I do and what I don't do.'

Carroll has assisted two goals for Jonjo Shelvey in the last two games - 'I said to Jonjo, it's about time he gave me something,' said the creator - and Newcastle are up to 10th in the Premier League with winnable games against Burnley and Crystal Palace to come before Christmas.

'It was obviously topsy turvy at the beginning of the season and the manager wasn't really everyone's cup of tea,' said Carroll.

'But I think he's proving everyone wrong. Seven points in a week is great and It's down to the manager, the staff, the players, the hard work that everyone is putting in around the club.'