Newcastle United skipper Kevin Nolan has urged the club's top brass to fend off interest in England striker Andy Carroll.
In-form Carroll, 21, has already scored 10 goals for the Magpies this season, leading to strong speculation that the young England international will be a prime target for the top clubs during 2011.
And Nolan, whose team face Manchester City at St James' Park on Boxing Day, is worried Newcastle might struggle to hold on to their No 9 if this weekend's opponents start chasing Carroll along with the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea.
Nolan told reporters: "I'm sure we'll have a few offers but hopefully the owners heads will not be turned by them.
"At the end of the day if we want to get the club to where it should be over the next five years you need to build it around someone like him.
"The worrying thing for us if a Manchester United, Manchester City or Arsenal or Chelsea come looking for him - then you've got a problem."
But Nolan, a huge influence on Carroll's development, insists the club must hold on to the powerful striker.
He added: "It won't just be me. We're mates but he's got a good enough dressing room who all like him, he likes playing for us.
"But the position he's in at the moment, if he wants to be an England regular, he needs to be playing week in-week out. Unless whoever comes in for him can guarantee him that he should stay with us.
"I'm obviously going to be selfish and say he should stay with us. But at the end of the day we are strong enough at this moment in time - as a dressing room - to keep Andy onside with us and to handcuff him to us!"
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| Newcastle United captain Kevin Nolan celebrates a goal with team-mate Andy Carroll Photo: Getty Images |
In-form Carroll, 21, has already scored 10 goals for the Magpies this season, leading to strong speculation that the young England international will be a prime target for the top clubs during 2011.
And Nolan, whose team face Manchester City at St James' Park on Boxing Day, is worried Newcastle might struggle to hold on to their No 9 if this weekend's opponents start chasing Carroll along with the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea.
Nolan told reporters: "I'm sure we'll have a few offers but hopefully the owners heads will not be turned by them.
"At the end of the day if we want to get the club to where it should be over the next five years you need to build it around someone like him.
"The worrying thing for us if a Manchester United, Manchester City or Arsenal or Chelsea come looking for him - then you've got a problem."
But Nolan, a huge influence on Carroll's development, insists the club must hold on to the powerful striker.
He added: "It won't just be me. We're mates but he's got a good enough dressing room who all like him, he likes playing for us.
"But the position he's in at the moment, if he wants to be an England regular, he needs to be playing week in-week out. Unless whoever comes in for him can guarantee him that he should stay with us.
"I'm obviously going to be selfish and say he should stay with us. But at the end of the day we are strong enough at this moment in time - as a dressing room - to keep Andy onside with us and to handcuff him to us!"
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