AT THE end of January Chris Hughton threw down the gauntlet to his stikers, challenging them to prove they were worthy of wearing the club’s iconic number nine jersey.

The manager admits that Andy Carroll’s hugely influential role during the latter part of the promotion campaign has forced him to consider handing the Gatesheadborn striker the shirt number that was worn by greats like Alan Shearer and Jackie Milburn when the new season kicks off.

Despite the arrival of Leon Best and Wayne Routledge during the last transfer window, Hughton insisted that the number nine remain in semi-retirement until a suitable heir was found to don one of the game’s most symbolic items of kit.

Since then, Carroll has hit 13 goals in 17 games to stake a strong claim for him to line up next season with a nine, rather than this season’s 24, on his back.

Hughton reckons Carroll certainly possesses the selfbelief to follow in the footsteps of an illustrious line of players.

“If he asked for the number nine shirt for next season it’s something that I would have to seriously think about,” he said. “I am aware of what that number means here. There is responsibility that goes with that number. One thing that I am sure is that he is big and brave enough to want it.

“If we look at his progress this season he’s answered a lot of questions that we’ve asked of him. The biggest one was for somebody of his size and prowess we wanted more goals from him. He’s certainly given us that. He’s given us more impact in games. There are areas that he still needs to develop. For a big man he is a good footballer, there are areas of his link up player that need to develop and I am sure they will. We probably couldn’t have asked any more of him.”

The manager continues to insist that he does not expect to significantly increase the size of the Magpies’ squad this summer but he is keen to bolster the coaching and support team to ensure they match the Premier League big boys.

Hughton said: “The backroom and scouting staff side of things does need building up again. It’s very difficult to do some things when you’re not a Premier League team.

So much effort goes into trying to achieve promotion.

“Some areas, like scouting and technology, I’d like to push on further. There are a lot of areas we are evaluating at the moment.”

Tim Krul will start against QPR in place of Steve Harper tomorrow but Hughton will not make wholesale changes to his starting line-up as Newcastle attempt to cross the 100 points in a season threshold.

Steven Taylor has returned to training but the manager confirmed he won’t risk the player’s long-term rehabilitation by rushing him back to face Neil Warnock’s side.