Jordan sympathises with under-fire Carroll

Tottenham coach Joe Jordan understands the pressure on Liverpool’s Andy Carroll and has backed him to come good.

Carroll’s 35-million-pound move to Liverpool from Newcastle United in January last year heaped added expectations on the striker, who scored seven goals in his first calendar year on Merseyside.

Jordan is no stranger to expectation after his move from Manchester United to AC Milan in 1981 and says comments that Carroll is not the same player he was a year ago are ‘unfair’.

“If you ask if I understand what the player has gone through, then yes, I do,” Jordan said.

“And yes I think it is unfair to say Andy Carroll is not the player he was. He needed time, he has had that and the signs are he has settled in.”

“Some players hit it off right away. Others take time because they need it and Carroll did. I have seen world-class players who have needed time.”

“I enjoyed moving from Scotland to Leeds and then on to (Manchester) United. When I was signed by Milan I decided I would just go with the flow. You were the people’s player.”

“From the moment you got up you represented Milan. We were on duty all the time. You quickly learn what it is all about.”

“I don’t think Carroll has had all of that to deal with but like any foreign player joining Liverpool with a price tag, the expectation is in what you can produce for the team.”

“Things were going great for him in a team he grew up with. When he moved he had to adjust to playing and living the Liverpool way.”

Jordan’s Tottenham side travel to Anfield to play Liverpool in the English Premier League on Monday.