Go home for good! Shearer: Andy will be a smash hit if he returns to his beloved Toon

HOMEWARD BOUND? ... Liverpool's Carroll is wanted by former club Newcastle

ALAN SHEARER believes Andy Carroll would be a smash hit if he moved back to Newcastle.

Shearer, a Toon legend in the No 9 shirt, was also briefly Carroll’s manager at St James’ Park.

And the former England skipper, 41, insists there would be no shame in Carroll donning the famous black and white shirt again.

Carroll was sold to Liverpool by Newcastle for £35million 18 months ago but new Reds boss Brendan Rodgers does not see the Three Lions forward as part of his future plans at Anfield.

The 23-year-old, though, proved at the Euro 2012 finals that he still has the ability to scare the life out of defenders with his stunning header in the 3-2 Group D victory over Sweden.

Newcastle have tried to get Carroll on a loan deal with a view to a permanent move.

But that was rejected as “derisory” with Toon owner Mike Ashley wanting the Reds to pay half the player’s wages.

Shearer, though, thinks returning to Tyneside might be Carroll’s best option to get his career firing on all cylinders again.

Shearer said: “How many clubs are there where Andy can realistically go?

“With respect to the lower half of the Premier League, he is a better player than that.

“Andy is an England centre-forward and I wouldn’t say he has been a flop at Liverpool by any means.

“Yes, it took him a bit of time to settle there but he finished the season strongly and considering he only started one game at the Euros, I thought he did well.

“Make no mistake, he is a very good footballer.

“I can fully understand why Newcastle are in for him and I think it would be a great move.

“When he was there before he benefited from the fact that the team was always working to get him the ball — and he thrived on that.

“That hasn’t always been the case at Liverpool and perhaps at times he suffered.

“But don’t think you just have to play long-ball if Andy’s in the team.

“He doesn’t have to have everything arrowed towards his head. He can play and he is comfortable with the ball at his feet.

“There is an old saying that you should never go back but, in Andy’s case, I don’t think it would be a mistake at all.

“He was hero-worshipped by the crowd first time around and they would warm to him again.

“Andy loved playing there and whatever the fans felt about him leaving to join Liverpool, I’m sure he would win them over quickly.”

Shearer realises that it will be difficult for Carroll to accept his Liverpool career is over, even if former Swansea chief Rodgers spells it out to him.

He added: “It hurts any player when you realise a club doesn’t want you anymore but that’s football and you have to get on with it.

“When Ruud Gullit was manager at Newcastle I realised I would have to leave if he didn’t.

“As it turned out he got sacked and, luckily, I was able to stay. But I was under no illusions about what the outcome would be if he had kept his job.

“Andy will realise that you can’t fight it if the manager has plans that don’t include you. It is better to go and start again.

“Brendan Rodgers wants to build his own team and he is entitled to do that.

“Andy wasn’t his signing and it’s the manager’s call whether he wants to incorporate him into his own system or not.

“The difficulty for Andy is that Liverpool is a top, top club and it will be hard for him to go.

“Whatever the problems the club has had, it is still one of the big names in world football with great history and tradition.

“Apart from the likes of Manchester United and now possibly Manchester City, there aren’t many bigger in England.”

There has been some interest in Gateshead-born Carroll from abroad in the shape of AC Milan, who were looking at a possible loan move themselves.

But Shearer does not believe a switch to a foreign land would suit the big striker.

He said: “I think Andy would be better off staying here.

“For me, his game is ideally suited to the Premier League.”

Spain’s triumph at the Euros has prompted a debate about whether the old-fashioned striker has had his day because they won without using a recognised frontman.

Shearer, though, is not having it that the out-and-out goalscorer is about to go the way of the Dodo.

He added: “Spain are unique, they played in a way we’ve not really seen before.

“But that isn’t a style for everybody and they had plenty of strikers on the bench who they were prepared to bring on.

“Strikers are still a valuable commodity and Andy is one of the best. I’m a big fan and always have been.

“I think he is going to end up leaving but I’m sure he will be better and stronger for the experiences he’s had. He’s still a young lad with a great future ahead of him.”