Newcastle United striker Andy Carroll is delighted with his loan switch to Preston North End.

The 18-year-old, who has already played in the Premier League and the Uefa Cup for the Magpies, has agreed to move to Deepdale until January after a personal recommendation from United boss Sam Allardyce.

"I was given a few clubs to choose from, but when I was looking at them Preston looked like the right move so I got straight on the phone to Paul and sorted it out," said Carroll, who was the star player in the Newcastle Academy side which reached the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup last season.

"They seemed like the right team for me and I thought that I'd fit in well. There's a few good players here and hopefully I can get on well with them. Obviously I'm delighted with the move and I just want to play some games and get some goals under my belt. I hope I get some goals down here so that I can show everyone I can do it."

Carroll's height and strength in the air have inevitably caused him to be given a target man tag, but the youngster was keen to stress to Preston supporters yesterday that there is more to his game than just winning headers.

He also told The Journal: "Everyone thinks I'm a target man, but it's not just about the head all the time," he explained. "I can get the ball down and score goals with my feet as well. Everyone calls me a young Duncan Ferguson up in Newcastle. They say I'm aggressive and good in the air, able to hold up play. Sam said Preston is a good club so I took his word for it and I'm down here and I just want to do well.

"The gaffer here tells me that we've got a good bunch of lads and he's just expecting me to train well and get into the first team. I'd just like to play my best all the time and play every week."