The big striker picked up his fourth booking of the season in Monday night's 1-0 win over Sheffield United after tangling with Newcastle target Matthew Kilgallon.

And another yellow card would see Carroll – named man of the match at Bramall Lane – collect an automatic one-game suspension.

But Hughton – who has already lost Alan Smith to suspension this season – sees bans as "inevitable" in the 46-game Championship, and he is resigned to losing Carroll at some stage.

"With so many games coming up, it's inevitable," Hughton told the Gazette.

"We won't be the only ones to lose players to suspension, and it's something we've just got to live with.

"If I look at Alan Smith, he missed last Saturday's game (against Doncaster Rovers).

"When your regular players are out, you just hope you can ride it out, get the result and look forward to them coming back, but, of course, you don't want to lose players like Andy and Alan Smith."

Carroll was immense at both ends of the pitch against Sheffield United, the 20-year-old winning a series of defensive headers late in the game as Newcastle fought to preserve their one-goal advantage.

Hughton went on: "He was important at both ends, but that's the game, and when you have a type of game like you have here – what does he do well?

"He's a good striker of the ball and he's very good in the air. When you need him in both boxes, that's part of his job. That's why he's in the side, and we certainly needed him."

Carroll's strike in last Saturday's win over Doncaster took his tally for the season to three goals.