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Astonishing Andy Carroll stats after only 196 minutes for Newcastle United

4 years ago
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Andy Carroll made headlines in August.

Returning to St James Park after almost nine years away, much of that spent watching football from the sidelines rather than playing on the pitch.

There were at least as many doubts in relation to whether he could start games for Newcastle this season, as there were concerning what he could do if he ever made a start.

With only 124 minutes in brief sub appearances in the opening four months, the signs weren’t good.

However, on Thursday night Steve Bruce sprang a surprise, Andy Carroll replacing Joelinton.

A first Premier League start for the striker in 10 months and only his fourth in 23 months, how would he do?

Overall he did ok, not the most mobile it has to be said, but in one area of his game there was never any doubt.

Andy Carroll winning header after header, the vast majority of them in his own box.

Sheffield United with overwhelming 73% domination and putting the ball repeatedly into the NUFC box and Andy Carroll (and his teammates) repeatedly heading and kicking it away.

Carroll has still only played 196 minutes but he has quickly risen to the very top of a particular stats table.

Just check out these astonishing stats below.

These stats from The Other 14 (who specialise in stats featuring on the clubs that aren’t one of the ‘big six’) show who has averaged the most headed duels won this season in the opening 15 games:

As you can see, Andy Carroll right at the top with an almost unbelievable stat of a header won on average every six and a half minutes he is on the pitch.

It does reflect Steve Bruce’s tactics as well, in terms of defending so deep most of the matches with even strikers spending more time in and around their own box rather than the opposition’s, as well as resorting to having to kick it long rather than build attacks from the back.

That is backed up by Joelinton up in sixth, winning a header roughly every 15 minutes he is on the pitch, having also contributed a lot in terms of defending this season.

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