For keen followers of the Championship, Andy Carroll has alreadyshown his huge potentialbut for football fans whose interests lie mainly in the riches and the glamour of the Premier League, Carroll is an unknown quantity. Premier League fans saw glimpses of Carroll during Newcastles relegation dogfightin the 2008/2009 season when he scored on his full debut against West Ham at St. James Park. He went on to score a further two goals including a vital equaliser at Stoke a few weeks before Newcastle were relegated.Newcastles relegation was disastrous for the club but importantly, not for the likes of Carroll and Shola Ameobi etc. The departures of Michael Owen Robinson Cano Jersey , Obafemi Martins and Mark Viduka meant that Carroll had the chance to stake his claim for a regular Newcastle start. The likes of Owen and Martins were big shoes to fill for such a young man, such a rough diamond buteveryone a sociated withNewcastle United saw his potential.Newcastle went into the championship with Ameobi, Lovenkrands and Carroll leading the charge back towards the premier league and Carroll certainly didnt disappoint. Carroll ended the campaign as the Toons leading goalscorer with 17 league goals and 2 FA Cup goals. Inevitably, being a Geordie, Newcastle United striker, comparisons began to be made with the legendary Alan Shearer and although Carroll is yet to prove these comparisons are fair, he undoubtedly has bags of potential to go on and score a hatful of goals and become every Geordies idol. He starred in a 5-1 demolition of Play-off finalists Cardiff City when he scored 2 goals, po sibly his best performance in a black and Neil Walker Jersey white shirt.As the 2010/11 season looms, Carroll has been awarded the number 9 shirt, the shirt worn by Shearer, Jackie Milburn, Malcolm Macdonald and Andrew Cole. its notjust a number at Newcastle, its atradition, the player wearing the number 9 scores goals. Carroll has been described as a typical number 9 striker; strong, good in the air, powerful infront of goal- all attributes which indicate Carroll will fulfil his potential and become an established Premier League and England striker in the years to come.When you watch Carroll play, it is easy to see why he is being tipped as the future Keith Hernandez Jersey of English football. Perhaps his inexperience was the reason why he was not picked for England at the World Cup but more likely Capello didnt want to risk making a walcott-esque decision as Sven Goran Erik son had done in 2006 but having watched the England games, having watched Rooney, Heskey- and Defoe and Crouch to an extent- misfire on the big stage, the wildcard option of Carrolls inclusion does not seem so unattractive.His time will come, ive no doubt about that. He is only 21 and this season is his chance to announce himself to the Premier League and if he and Newcastle can survive the jump back up to the big league, Euro 2012 is on the horizon for the talented Geordie.Carroll is certainly not short of admirers. Chris Hughton believes that Carroll will follow in the footsteps of the great Newcastle number 9s. Gianluigi Buffon even famously complimented him on his ability and described him as the perfect paintbrush striker. Some consider a paintbrush striker as a compliment, others think it is an insult but in my opinion (and Buffons) it is most definitely a compliment. Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Michael Owen and Fernando Torres all fall into the category and Jed Lowrie Jersey those three are amongst the best the Premier League has seen. Alan Shearer described Carroll as the future of Newcastle. Furthermore, Chelsea are rumoured to be enquiring about Carrolls availability, One hopes that Carroll doesnt go to Chelsea thoughas he could end up warming the bench along with another talented, young, English strikerDaniel Sturridge.Its hard to tell how Newcastle will perform this season but if they are to do well and maintain their top flight status, I am sure that Carroll will be at the heart of it. Who knows what will happen in the future but he certainly has the ability, the desire and the support to become a Legend to the adoring Toon Army.Also vital to Edwin Diaz Jersey Carroll is the seasons worth of starts, goals and experience that have helped shape him into a better player which will stand him in good stead for a solid season in the Premier League where i feel if things go his way, he will find himself high in the scoring charts and with a few England caps under his belt.