The 22-year-old, who completed a £35million move from Newcastle on deadline day, has been edging nearer to full fitness from a thigh injury which has sidelined him since late December and is finally close to inclusion in the squad.
It is a big ask of the striker, making his debut in arguably the biggest game in the Premiership fixture list.
Kenny Dalglish continues to keep Man Utd guessing: "I'm sure Sir Alex would love to know if Carroll is playing, but I'm not letting on."
MAGPIES IN EUROPE
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It is a "thank you" to all NU-Mad readers.
NEWCASTLE 1 EVERTON 2
NEWCASTLE: Harper, Steven Taylor (Ferguson 65), Williamson, Coloccini, Jose Enrique (Ameobi 43), Simpson, Tiote, Nolan, Gutierrez, Best (Kuqi 85), Lovenkrands.
Subs Not Used: Krul, Guthrie, Perch, Richardson.
EVERTON: Howard, Hibbert, Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Osman (Coleman 85), Neville (Heitinga 52), Rodwell, Arteta, Beckford (Anichebe 69), Saha.
Subs Not Used: Mucha, Bilyaletdinov, Duffy, Baxter.
Att: 50,128
Newcastle's poor home form continued with a shock defeat to Everton, despite Alan Pardew getting the dream start he wanted.
Newcastle have only won four of 15 Premiership games played at St James' Park this season.
Pardew said on Friday: "We have to learn how to start a game well; come out of the blocks and gert the crowd behind us. We have struggled to do that at St James' Park all season."
He got his wish, to a degree. United were hardly world-beaters ... but they did score.
They were buoyed too by the knowledge that the visitors would be without key men Marouane Fellaini and Tim Cahill, although their optimism was tempered by the absence of both Joey Barton and Stephen Ireland through injury.
His initial solution was to promote full-back Danny Simpson to the role with central defending Steven Taylor taking over at the back, although the move patently did not work.
Too many players out of position, and the Magpies looked disjointed and totally lacking in ideas.
But, after a scrappy start, it was Pardew's side who eventually took the lead from their first meaningful attack with 23 minutes gone.
Fabricio Coloccini's quickly-taken free-kick to Jonas Gutierrez caught the visitors napping and when the Argentinian's low cross was turned on to skipper Kevin Nolan by Mike Williamson, he powered a shot towards goal from a tight angle.
Tim Howard could only parry the ball across goal to present Leon Best with the simplest of tasks to head home his sixth of the season.
The goal seemed to settle Newcastle down and they pinned the Merseysiders back as they sought to increase their advantage.
However, their dominance was fleeting and the lead not only evaporated, but was overhauled in the space of five minutes.
Arteta, playing on the left side of the Everton midfield, had earlier shown signs of causing problems, and he did the damage with 31 minutes gone.
He was well-placed to receive Osman's pass after his midfield colleague had broken from halfway, and laid the return ball on a plate for him to side-foot home with the help of a deflection off Jose Enrique.
But there was worse to come with 36 minutes gone when the black and white shirts stood and watched as Baines' free-kick sailed across the penalty area for Jagielka to shoot home off the underside of the crossbar.
Newcastle were unable to contain the visitors in the middle of the park and found Jermaine Beckford, once a target for former boss Chris Hughton, repeatedly running at defenders with Arteta prompting.
Pardew was forced into a reshuffle when Enrique limped off injured and with Simpson taking over at left-back, Peter Lovenkrands dropping into midfield and masked substitute Shola Ameobi joining Best in attack, they had a better shape.
They might have gone in at the break level had Williamson managed to turn Gutierrez's driven shot inside rather than outside the post in injury time, but even then, Pardew would have had work to do anyway after a disjointed opening 45 minutes.
Ameobi started the second half in positive mood and twice within a minute forced saves from Howard, the first of them less than convincing.
But with John Heitinga having replaced skipper Phil Neville, Everton could have increased their lead with Steve Harper saving from Beckford and Louis Saha heading wastefully over after Arteta had once again sliced his way into the penalty area.
The game was becoming increasingly open to leave both defences under pressure, and Harper had to make a smart save to keep out Beckford's 61st-minute volley.
Arteta might have sealed the win with 16 minutes remaining, but stabbed wide from close-range, and Best had a 78th-minute header chalked off for a push on Jagielka.
Substitute Seamus Coleman might have increased the visitors' lead at the death but for a good block by Harper.
The last time Everton came to St James' Park ...
2008/9 Newcastle 0 Everton 0
NEWCASTLE: Harper, Steven Taylor, Bassong, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Ryan Taylor, Butt, Nolan, Duff (Gutierrez 46), Ameobi (Martins 58), Lovenkrands (Smith 77).
Subs Not Used: Krul, Cacapa, Geremi, Viduka.
EVERTON: Howard, Jagielka, Yobo, Lescott, Baines, Gosling (Saha 74), Neville, Arteta (Castillo 7), Rodwell, Anichebe (Fellaini 45), Jo.
Subs Not Used: Nash, Van der Meyde, Jacobsen, Wallace.
Att: 47,683
Ten-man Newcastle gave manager Joe Kinnear another tonic as they scrapped to a precious point against European contenders Everton.
Kinnear left hospital on Saturday after undergoing a triple heart bypass, hoping a second successive Barclays Premier League victory would aid his recovery.
His hopes were dealt a serious blow when midfielder Kevin Nolan was sent off for a dreadful 43rd-minute challenge on Victor Anichebe, but he will have been delighted by the spirit his team showed to battle to a point.
Two first-half saves from goalkeeper Steve Harper ensured a first clean sheet in nine league games, and Peter Lovenkrands and substitute Jonas Gutierrez might even have snatched victory in a full-blooded contest.
The day had started with a protest against Mike Ashley's regime in the city centre, but it ended with a positive result which eased Newcastle slightly further away from the drop zone.
The draw extended Everton's recent run to one defeat in 14 games in all competitions, but they will feel two more points were theirs for the taking.
They arrived on Tyneside with a squad depleted by injury and suspension, and their woes deepened inside an eventful opening 45 minutes through a combination of misfortune and Nolan's rush of blood.
The game was only three minutes old when Mikel Arteta challenged Lovenkrands and landed awkwardly, grasping his knee in agony.
He was eventually carried off on a stretcher to join banned duo Tim Cahill and Tony Hibbert and the injured Leon Osman, Steven Pienaar and Ayegbeni Yakubu on the sidelines, and Anichebe's name was also added to the list.
The striker limped off after being caught by Nolan's two-footed tackle, which prompted an instant red card from referee Lee Mason.
Mr Mason was roundly booed by the home fans, although television replays revealed he had little choice.
The visitors were by far the sharper team during the early encounters and had two glorious opportunities to take a lead which would have been well deserved.
Sebastien Bassong needlessly conceded a 19th-minute corner, although he atoned for his error when, after Harper got a hand to Joseph Yobo's glancing header, he hacked the rebound off the line.
Harper then managed to block Jack Rodwell's 29th-minute effort at the far post with his legs as the Toffees threatened to blow their hosts away, just as Merseyside neighbours Liverpool had done in December.
However, the best chance of the first half came at the other end two minutes later when Shola Ameobi and Nolan combined to put Lovenkrands in on keeper Tim Howard.
The Dane steadied himself but pushed his left-foot shot wide of the post.
Ryan Taylor curled a free-kick just over five minutes later as the Magpies started to dominate, but it was then that Nolan's tenacity got the better of him and with Marouane Fellaini replacing Anichebe, Newcastle were under the cosh once again.
Damien Duff made way for Jonas Gutierrez at the break, but it was the visitors who started strongly once again with Yobo blazing a shot inches over the bar within three minutes of the restart.
In their current predicament the Magpies knew they could not afford to sit back and settle for a draw, and Howard was called into action once again to punch away Ryan Taylor's driven 51st-minute free-kick.
David Moyes' side continued to dominate possession as lone striker Ameobi struggled to hold the ball up, and caretaker boss Chris Hughton made his move when he replaced him with Obafemi Martins, making his first appearance since December after undergoing hernia surgery.
Everton were making the most of their numerical advantage as they moved the ball quickly and confidently around the pitch, although they were not finding many holes in the Newcastle defence.
Substitute Louis Saha fired high over under extreme pressure from the impressive Bassong and Phil Jagielka blasted a free-kick well off target as time ran down, but the Magpies managed to hang on to gain some reward for a gutsy display.
NEWCASTLE UNITED:
Saturday 05th March 2011
Newcastle v Everton 15.00
Saturday 19th March 2011
Stoke City v Newcastle 15.00
NEWCASTLE UNITED 2010/11
PREMIERSHIP
NEWCASTLE 1 EVERTON 2 (Best)
Harper, Steven Taylor (Ferguson 65), Williamson, Coloccini, Jose Enrique (Ameobi 43), Simpson, Tiote, Nolan, Gutierrez, Best (Kuqi 85), Lovenkrands.
Subs Not Used: Krul, Guthrie, Perch, Richardson.
NEWCASTLE 1 BOLTON 1 (Nolan)
Harper, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Barton, Tiote, Nolan, Gutierrez (Campbell 87), Lovenkrands (Ranger 64), Best (Guthrie 75).
Subs Not Used: Krul, Perch, Ferguson, Kuqi.
BIRMINGHAM 0 NEWCASTLE 2 (Lovenkrands, Best)
Harper, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Barton, Tiote, Nolan, Gutierrez (Campbell 87), Lovenkrands (Ranger 64), Best (Guthrie 75).
Subs Not Used: Krul, Perch, Ferguson, Kuqi.
BLACKBURN 0 NEWCASTLE 0
Harper, Simpson (Perch 76), Williamson, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Barton, Tiote, Nolan, Gutierrez, Best (Kuqi 90), Lovenkrands (Ranger 77).
Subs Not Used: Krul, Campbell, Guthrie, Ferguson.
NEWCASTLE 4 ARSENAL 4 (Barton 2 (2 pens), Best, Tiote)
Harper, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Barton, Tiote, Nolan, Gutierrez, Best (Guthrie 89), Lovenkrands (Ranger 73).
Subs Not Used: Krul, Campbell, Perch, Ferguson, Richardson.
FULHAM 1 NEWCASTLE UTD 0
Harper, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Barton, Nolan, Guthrie, Gutierrez, Best (Lovenkrands 72), Ameobi (Ranger 13).
Subs Not Used: Krul, Campbell, Perch, Ferguson, Richardson.
NEWCASTLE 1 SPURS 1 (Coloccini)
Harper, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Barton, Guthrie (Perch 74), Nolan, Gutierrez, Best (Lovenkrands 65), Ameobi (Ranger 88).
Subs Not Used: Krul, Campbell, Xisco, Ferguson.
SUNDERLAND 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (Nolan)
Harper, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Jose Enrique, Barton, Nolan, Smith (Guthrie 37),Gutierrez (Gosling 90), Best (Lovenkrands 88), Ameobi.
Subs Not Used: Krul, Routledge, Perch, Ranger.
NEWCASTLE 5 WEST HAM 0 (Best 3, Nolan, Lovenkrands)
Harper, Simpson, Steven Taylor (Williamson 46), Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Barton, Nolan, Tiote, Gutierrez (Ferguson 66), Lovenkrands, Best (Ranger 64).
Subs Not Used: Krul, Guthrie, Routledge, Perch.
WIGAN 0 NEWCASTLE 1 (Ameobi)
Harper, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Barton, Nolan (Smith 86), Tiote, Gutierrez, Ameobi (Best 77), Lovenkrands (Routledge 70).
Subs Not Used: Krul, Williamson, Perch, Ranger.
TOTTENHAM 2 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Coloccini, Steven Taylor, Perch, Tiote (Lovenkrands 79), Barton, Routledge, Simpson, Smith, Gutierrez (Ranger 67), Carroll.
Subs Not Used: Harper, Williamson, Xisco, Best, Kadar.
NEWCASTLE 1 MAN CITY 3 (Carroll)
Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Routledge (Ranger 60), Barton, Tiote, Gutierrez, Nolan, Carroll.
Subs Not Used: Harper, Williamson, Guthrie, Perch, Smith, Best.
NEWCASTLE 3 LIVERPOOL 1 (Nolan, Barton, Carroll)
Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Campbell, Jose Enrique, Barton (Routledge 90), Nolan (Smith 87), Tiote, Gutierrez, Carroll, Ameobi (Ranger 63).
Subs Not Used: Harper, Guthrie, Lovenkrands, Perch.
WEST BROM 3 NEWCASTLE 1 (Lovenkrands)
Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Campbell, Jose Enrique, Routledge (Ranger 74), Guthrie (Smith 73), Tiote, Gutierrez, Carroll, Ameobi (Lovenkrands 46).
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Perch, Best, Kadar.
NEWCASTLE 1 CHELSEA 1 (Carroll)
Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Campbell, Jose Enrique, Routledge, Guthrie, Tiote, Gutierrez, Carroll, Ameobi (Ranger 77).
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Lovenkrands, Perch, Smith, Best, Kadar.
BOLTON 5 NEWCASTLE 1 (Carroll)
Krul, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Guthrie (Routledge 71), Nolan, Smith, Gutierrez (Campbell 77), Carroll, Ameobi (Lovenkrands 72).
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Perch, Steven Taylor, Ranger.
NEWCASTLE 0 FULHAM 0
Krul, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Guthrie (Routledge 76), Tiote, Nolan, Gutierrez, Carroll, Lovenkrands (Ranger 76).
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Campbell, Smith, Xisco, Steven Taylor.
NEWCASTLE 1 BLACKBURN 2 (Carroll)
Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Jose Enrique, Barton, Nolan, Tiote (Routledge 88), Gutierrez, Carroll,Ameobi (Ranger 46).
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Campbell, Lovenkrands, Smith, Steven Taylor.
ARSENAL 0 NEWCASTLE 1 (Carroll)
Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Jose Enrique, Barton, Tiote, Nolan, Gutierrez, Carroll, Ameobi (Ranger 82).
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Campbell, Routledge, Lovenkrands, Smith, Steven Taylor.
NEWCASTLE 5 SUNDERLAND 1 (Nolan 3, Ameobi 2 - 1 pen)
Krul, Jose Enrique, Coloccini, Williamson, Simpson,Tiote, Barton, Nolan, Gutierrez, Ameobi (Ranger 86), Carroll.
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Routledge, Lovenkrands, Perch, Ryan Taylor, Smith.
WEST HAM 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Nolan, Carroll)
Krul, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Barton, Nolan, Tiote, Gutierrez, Carroll, Ameobi.
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Guthrie, Routledge, Lovenkrands, Perch, Ryan Taylor, Smith.
NEWCASTLE 2 WIGAN ATH 2 (Ameobi, Coloccini)
Krul, Perch (Ranger 89), Coloccini, Williamson, Jose Enrique, Guthrie (Routledge 66), Tiote, Barton, Gutierrez, Lovenkrands (Ameobi 60), Carroll.
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Ryan Taylor, Smith, Kadar.
MAN CITY 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Gutierrez)
Krul, Perch, Williamson, Coloccini (Campbell 36), Jose Enrique, Ben Arfa (Routledge 7), Nolan (Carroll 76), Tiote, Barton, Gutierrez, Ameobi.
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Lovenkrands, Ryan Taylor, Smith.
NEWCASTLE 1 STOKE CITY 2 (Nolan pen)
Krul, Perch, Coloccini, Williamson, Jose Enrique, Ben Arfa (Gutierrez 62), Barton, Tiote (Ameobi 74), Routledge, Nolan, Carroll.
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Lovenkrands, Ryan Taylor, Smith, Ranger.
EVERTON 0 NEWCASTLE 1 (Ben Arfa)
Harper (Krul 35), Perch, Coloccini, Williamson,Jose Enrique, Routledge, Tiote, Barton,Ben Arfa (Gutierrez 84), Nolan, Carroll.
Subs Not Used: Campbell, Lovenkrands, Ryan Taylor, Smith.
NEWCASTLE 0 BLACKPOOL 2
Harper, Perch, Coloccini, Williamson, Jose Enrique, Routledge (Ameobi 81), Smith (Lovenkrands 62), Barton, Gutierrez (Ben Arfa 73), Nolan, Carroll.
Subs Not Used: Krul, Campbell, Ryan Taylor, Tiote.
WOLVES 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (Carroll)
Harper, Perch, Williamson, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Routledge, Smith, Barton, Gutierrez, Nolan, Carroll (Ameobi 81).
Subs Not Used: Krul, Lovenkrands, Ryan Taylor, Kadar, Vuckic, Ranger.
NEWCASTLE 6 ASTON VILLA 0 (Barton, Nolan 2, Carroll 3)
Harper, Perch, Coloccini, Williamson, Jose Enrique, Routledge (Ameobi 76), Smith (Ryan Taylor 76), Barton, Gutierrez (Xisco 80), Nolan, Carroll.
Subs Not Used: Krul, Lovenkrands, Vuckic, Tavernier.
MAN UTD 3 NEWCASTLE 0
Harper, Perch, Coloccini, Williamson, Jose Enrique, Routledge, Smith, Nolan (Ameobi 71), Barton,Gutierrez (Xisco 80), Carroll.
Subs Not Used: Krul, Ryan Taylor, Vuckic, Ranger, Tavernier.
FA CUP
STEVENAGE 3 NEWCASTLE 1
Krul, Perch, Coloccini, Williamson, Simpson, Barton, Smith (Tiote 58), Nolan, Routledge, Lovenkrands (Airey 78), Best (Ranger 46).
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Guthrie, Kadar, Ferguson.
CARLING CUP
NEWCASTLE 0 ARSENAL 4
Krul, Perch, Williamson, Kadar, Ryan Taylor, Routledge (Gutierrez 56), Guthrie, Smith (Barton 71), Vuckic, Lovenkrands (Carroll 57), Ranger.
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Tiote.
CHELSEA 3 NEWCASTLE 4 (Ranger, R Taylor, Ameobi 2)
Krul, Ryan Taylor (Tiote 63), Campbell, Coloccini (Williamson 63), Ferguson (Barton 90), Ranger, Gutierrez, Vuckic, Smith, Ameobi, Lovenkrands.
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Nolan, Carroll, Ben Arfa.
ACCRINGTON STANLEY 2 NEWCASTLE 3 (Ryan Taylor, Ameobi, Lovenkrands)
Krul, Ryan Taylor, Kadar, Tavernier, Ferguson, Ranger, Donaldson, Vuckic (Nolan 90), LuaLua, Ameobi,Lovenkrands.
Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Williamson, Barton, Routledge, Perch, Smith.
PRE-SEASON
CARLISLE 0 NEWCASTLE 3 (Best, Ranger, Vuckic)
Harper (Krul 46), Tavernier (R Taylor 46), Coloccini (S Taylor 46) (Henderson 81), Williamson (Perch 46), Enrique (Ferguson 46), Inman (Routledge 46), Smith (Barton 46), Nolan (Guthrie 46), LuaLua (Vuckic 46) , Carroll (Best 46), Lovenkrands (Ranger 46).
NORWICH CITY 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Ameobi)
Krul, Taylor (Routledge 45), Tavernier, Coloccini (Williamson 45), Diaz (Ferguson 57); Ranger (Xisco 45), Barton (Smith 45), Nolan (Guthrie 45), Vuckic (Edmundsson 72); Best (Lovenkrands 45), Carroll (Ameobi 45).
NEWCASTLE 2 PSV EINDHOVEN 2 (R.Taylor, Best)
Harper, Perch, Enrique, Coloccini, Williamson, Guthrie, Nolan, Smith, Ryan Taylor, Lovenkrands, Ameobi. Subs: Carroll, Xisco, Best, LuaLua, Krul, Vuckic, Ranger, Donaldson, Tavernier.
DEPORTIVO 0 NEWCASTLE 0 (NUFC win 5-4 on penalties - Lovenkrands, Nolan, Carroll, R Taylor, Barton)
Harper (Krul 46); R Taylor, Perch (Tavernier 52), Coloccini, Enrique; Routledge, Barton, Guthrie (Nolan 46), Xisco (Gutierrez 46); Carroll, Best (Lovenkrands 73). Subs (not used): Smith, Ferguson
RANGERS 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Lovenkrands)
Harper; Perch (Tavernier 81), Coloccini (Ferguson 81), Williamson, Enrique (R Taylor 56); Routledge (Xisco 83), Barton, Nolan, Guthrie, Gutierrez (Lovenkrands 69); Carroll (Ameobi 46).