• Premier League

Carroll just needs more time - Rush

ESPN staff
November 29, 2011
Andy Carroll has taken his time to adapt to life at Anfield © PA Photos
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Former Liverpool great Ian Rush is adamant Andy Carroll will come good for the Premier League club, believing he just needs a bit more time to adapt to life at Anfield.

The £35 million January signing from Newcastle has had an inconsistent start to life on Merseyside, as livewire Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez - signed at the same time - has often been preferred to Carroll in manager Kenny Dalglish's starting lineups.

Pressure has thus begun to mount on the England international but Rush, who has worked closely with Carroll as part of his role as an attacking coach at the club, believes he has all the tools to be a club legend once he fully adjusts to what are still new surroundings and difficult expectations.

"He is a young lad. He just moved. Everyone thinks it's easy to make a move to a club like Liverpool, but believe me, it's not that easy. He just needs time to settle in," Rush told The Mirror. "You have to be patient with young players, it is not as simple as them coming in and performing straight away - and the manager knows that.

"Kenny will pick teams against certain opposition. He is not scared to change a winning team. He will sit down with his assistant Steve Clarke and look at the opposition and decide who is the best team to play against them.

"If it's Andy Carroll, he will play him because he believes in him. We all believe in him."

Rush believes Carroll's task has been made harder by Suarez's phenomenal start to life at Anfield, but has tipped the powerful left-footer to step into the breach when his team-mate inevitably hits a slump in form.

"Luis Suarez is in great form at the moment, but there will most probably come a time when he goes off form," added Rush. "That's when Andy will come in. That's what it's all about. It's not about individuals.

"I think they got the right manager to coach him along. Yeah, it is a high price. Andy Carroll didn't ask for that.

"As a former striker, I believe in him. The manager believes in him. There will be a time, probably this season, when he will be needed. I'm sure he will come good for Liverpool."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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