Former Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer is confident that Andy Carroll can make an impact at the highest level.

Shearer, the Magpies' all-time leading goalscorer, believes Carroll has already shown the sort of ability needed to follow him into the England ranks and play at international level.

Shearer, who scored 30 goals in 63 appearances for this country, worked with the 21-year-old during a brief stint as manager at the club. And he believes that Carroll has shown so much improvement since the start of the season that he is ready to make the step-up and make his mark on the international stage.

It has been suggested that Fabio Capello is ready to include the Gateshead-born forward — despite his well documented off the field problems — for the friendly against France next week.

"A month ago, I would maybe have said it was too early, but he's getting better and better every game,’’ Shearer told the Evening Chronicle.

"You can't ignore that but as I say when people were pushing him at the start of the season, it might have been too early.

"He's still learning and maturing, but the kid is getting better and better.

"He [Capello] has to put him in sooner or later and I don't think it would be a surprise if he was picked now."

Carroll was a boyhood fan of Shearer, and now wears his icon's famous No.9 shirt and is the leading top goalscorer for the Toon this season, with six goals to his name. The last of those was the winner against Arsenal at the Emirates at the weekend, which only helped push his Three Lions claim.

However, he has not helped with himself with constant off the field issues, including being charged with assault after a fight with a former girlfriend. But Shearer wants fans to focus on his football:

‘’I have been very impressed with Andy - I do not think you can be anything but impressed. He has had a great start to the season," he noted.

"He just needs to keep on doing what he is doing. As [manager] Chris Hughton has said there will be times when he does not score and he might have games that are a bit iffy.

"That's part and parcel of the game but at the minute, he's on a high. He was absolutely awesome at Arsenal on Sunday, he completely bullied the defence and that is great to see.

"Arsenal are a team that are trying to win the Premier League, so it's a great that he's doing it against the best teams and that he keeps learning.

"It's a huge thing that he's contributing in the defensive areas too. He sees the problem and takes it on.

"He's like a magnet at the back, and that's a really important part of his game."