Andy Carroll has a confession to make at Newcastle United

The striker – who has signed a new one-year deal – is trying to help the club’s young players as they look to establish themselves at Premier League level.

However, Carroll, preparing for tomorrow evening’s game against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium, admits he should have listened more to the likes of Nicky Butt during his first spell at Newcastle.

Asked about his role off the pitch at United, the 31-year-old said: “It’s a lot different to what it was 10 years ago when the senior lads were talking to me, and I wasn’t listening to them, which I probably should have!

“Probably Matty Longstaff and people like that are looking at me thinking ‘shut up’ as well, like I was doing to Nicky Butt and stuff at the time. Hopefully, they’ll listen, but you don’t know.”

On his new deal, Carroll told NUFC TV: “I’m absolutely delighted. It’s been a bit of a stop-start season for all of us, and especially me. To sign that and be here next year is great.”

Head coach Steve Bruce revealed last week that Carroll had “knocked on his door” asking to start.

“He’s brilliant, and a great person to speak to,” said Carroll, who started Sunday’s 2-0 FA Cup defeat to Manchester City.

“When I knocked on his door it wasn’t a heated argument – it was nothing like that. It was just a discussion of my point, his point, and we worked together on that.”