Newcastle United midfielder Kevin Nolan believes his team are in a better position after selling striker Andy Carroll to Liverpool for £35 million (€39.5m) in the winter transfer window.
Carroll will be reunited with his former team-mates on Sunday when the Magpies travel to Anfield but Nolan believes the move was the right one for everyone involved.
"We have proved we are not just a one-man band. People blame Andy for going, but you can’t really blame anyone. You can’t blame the owners for the money they got," he said according to the Daily Mail.
"It was for the best for the club. It's worked out better that Andy has gone, although we’d love to have him still here.
"We’d probably have a few more points and would probably build a team which was going to be great around him.
"We’re in such a fantastic position, let’s just see what happens. The money we got was astronomical."
Newcastle sit in mid-table, having been promoted back to the Premier League last year, with Carroll one of the main reasons the Toon Army have done so well this season. But Nolan revealed that his former team-mate has been giving nothing away ahead of Sunday's clash.
"He’s been a bit sheepish with me this week. He has been in touch and texted, but we are not giving too much away to each other. He’s desperate to play and wants to see all the lads," he added.
"In my eyes it’ll hit him when he sees Newcastle the team he grew up with and loved for so long, playing against him."
Prediction
Liverpool will be looking for revenge over the visitors after being roundly beaten 3-1 at St. James' Park earlier in the season, and if recent form is anything to go by, Kenny Dalglish will be confident of keeping up their strong finish as the campaign nears its conclusion. Both sides will be playing for little more than pride but this will be no dud and I expect the hosts to overcome Alan Pardew's charges in a high-tempo clash at Anfield.
Liverpool 2-0 Newcastle 
