Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish has described new £35 million signing Andy Carroll as a “fantastic talent”.
Carroll completed the big money switch to Liverpool late last night, leaving behind his boyhood club Newcastle Utd.
He will take up the number 9 shirt, vacated by Fernando Torres and once worn by the likes of Anfield greats Ian Rush, Roger Hunt and Robbie Fowler.
Speaking about Carroll on the club’s official website today, “As everyone knows, he is a young boy with a fantastic talent and this is a great opportunity for him. He was in the England squad last year and did very well. I know Newcastle will be deeply hurt to lose him but it’s a great signing for us.
“If you look at the game against us he scored one and was involved in the other two. If we can get the same return off him in every game as he did against us then we’ll be delighted.
“He’s just a young boy with a great talent. He’s a big lad but is very good on the deck as well, he has good feet, he’s very strong in the air and he’ll give us a bit of presence up front. He’s a little bit different to what we’ve been used to but it won’t change our principles and philosophies of how we want to play.”
Carroll is currently suffering from a thigh problem, which Dalglish updated upon.
“At the moment he’s got a bit of a knock and is probably a few weeks away from playing, but the signing wasn’t made to cover a few weeks. He signed for five and a half years and there’s a lot of weeks in that time when he’ll be fit and playing for us.”
Dalglish was also full of praise for Liverpool’s new owners who gave him support and money to spend during Janaury’s dramatic transfer window.
“They’re as ambitious as anybody else and they understand we have to move forward for everyone’s sake. They are prepared to support us and will do the best they can possibly do.”
