Newcastle United boss Steve Bruce is eager to keep fit-again Andy Carroll on the pitch.

He was handed his first start of the season against Sheffield United, got a flick-on assist for Jonjo Shelvey's goal, and says he wants more action.

Ahead of today's clash with Southampton, Bruce said: “He does have a presence and it lifts people. He has a physicality about him and, of course, he is a very good player when he is right.

“He gives everyone a lift when he's in and around the training ground and I'm delighted. He's waited a very long time for his start and it turned out okay.

"The longer it went on the better he got, plus an assist in his first game. Can't be bad. So he'll be a big asset to us if he stays well, and that is the big thing for me, my staff, my medical staff - to keep him right because if he is right he'll be a handful for anybody.

“Defensively he would have made an absolutely world-class centre-half back in my day because he just goes and heads it and has that ability."