Nolan hopes to give Carroll special treatment

Newcastle United captain Kevin Nolan is fit to play at Anfield on Sunday, hopefully against former house guest Andy Carroll.

Carroll joined Liverpool from Newcastle in January 35 million pounds – a record transfer for a British player.

But the young striker, who sat out Liverpool’s 5-0 hammering of Birmingham after a knee injury sustained against Arsenal, is rated “doubtful” for the clash.

Nolan had missed two games with suspension, but impressed in the 1-1 draw at Bloomfield Road before being replaced late by James Perch, prompting fears of an injury.

Yet Nolan has quickly allayed those fears.

“I just felt a bit of a niggle,” Nolan told the Newcastle Chronicle.

“It was only a precaution and to get somebody on who could run a bit faster than me really.”

“It’s been horrible to be honest to miss two games. But it is just part and parcel of it all.”

Nolan joked he hopes that Carroll is fit for Sunday so he can “kick” his former team-mate, who was ordered to live with Newcastle captain when released on bail following assault charges in October 2010.

“The big man missed out because of an injury,” Nolan said.

“He missed out and he doesn’t know how long he will be out.”

“Hopefully he’ll be back so I can kick him.”

“There will be a lot of friends and family there in both ends for him. We’re looking forward to it.”

“We’ve been brilliant away from home this season and we’re full of confidence.”

“They had a fantastic result and so they’re full of confidence too. It will make for an entertaining game.”

Carroll netted 12 goals for the Magpies this season before joining Liverpool and has added two more to his tally in a red shirt after his big-money January switch.

“I don’t know if I want him to play or not,” Nolan said.

“I do so I can kick him, but I don’t want to him to play because of the threat he can pose.”

“He’s clicking into gear. You will see the best of him next year I think. But he’ll be desperate to play against us.”

United have not won a Premier League game at Anfield since 1994.

“We don’t worry about anything like that. This is a different team to ones that have gone there in the past,” Nolan said.

Newcastle are in ninth place on 41 points, and trail sixth-placed Liverpool by 11 points.