Carroll has shut up his critics, says keeper Jones
LIVERPOOL goalkeeper Brad Jones believes £35m striker Andy Carroll has silenced his critics with the winning goal in Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final victory over Everton.
Carroll followed his late decider at Blackburn last week with the header that clinched a 2-1 triumph against their Merseyside rivals and booked a return to Wembley for the final on 5 May.
Third-choice stopper Jones, who stood in with Pepe Reina and Alexander Doni suspended, insists criticism of the most expensive British player of all time has been disproportionate and is beginning to be proved wrong.
“A lot of things are written about him – too much – but not necessarily true,” said Jones, who is set to be dropped following Reina’s return from suspension.
“He works hard on the training pitch, he’s a top lad around the club. He is a good guy to have around and we’re all buzzing for him that he got the goal. He can shut a few people up, maybe, and just get on with being a footballer.”
Carroll, 23, has scored just 10 times in 51 appearances for Liverpool since his big-money move from Newcastle in the 2011 winter transfer window, but two in his last two starts.