Carroll's first-half performance against Everton was one of the few positives to come from Sunday's final game of the season.

Keegan had handed the 19-year-old his first senior start in the absence of Mark Viduka, and he proved a handful for the home defence.

But Keegan is keen Gateshead-born Carroll does not let it go to his head, and instead reports back for pre-season training in early July hungrier than ever, having his biggest taste yet of first-team football.

He told the Gazette: "I thought Andy Carroll did very, very well first half, when we gave him a supply.

"He kept battling second half, as you would expect from a young lad who has been given a chance.

"He's got a lot to learn, but the things he needs to learn, both on the pitch and on the training ground, I think he can learn.

"He's a long way from the finished article, but he had a taste of it, and let's hope he goes away on a holiday thinking he's got one rung up on a very long ladder, and not that he's hit the big time, because that's all he's done."

Carroll – who famously scored against Juventus in pre-season – spent the first half of the season on loan at Preston North End, scoring once.

He opted not to go out on loan again, and Keegan has been impressed with what he has seen of England Under-19 international since returning to St James's Park, with Carroll now firmly established in his first-team squad.