Cloud 9 for Carroll

Confirmation today that our new No 9 is last season's top scorer Andy Carroll. Bigger Lad becomes the latest in a long line of players to be afforded the opportunity to wear the shirt once sported by the Lion of Gosforth, Sir Les, SuperMac and Wor Jackie to name but a few.

Hopefully he'll now go on to acquire a nickname born of his prolific goalscoring form, and will also accept the responsibilities which come from being a local icon, and steer clear of further Bigg Market trouble.

Without wanting to get too wrapped up in the cult of the No 9, it is true that, much as the No 7 shirts at Anfield and Old Trafford, there is something a little bit special about being given the No 9 shirt at Newcastle, more so since the days of squad numbering meant that the No 9 doesn't automatically go to whoever is playing up front each week. To that end, it is an honour, and one which, in light of his performances last term and the potential which he shows, Bigger Lad deserves.

"I'm immensely proud. It's an unbelievable feeling", he said. "Alan Shearer was my idol as a young lad and who would have thought I'd be following in his footsteps?"

The challenge for him now is to show enough to earn the right to keep the shirt and try and carve his own piece of history. Wor Andy, anyone?