Newcastle's assistant manager John Carver insists they are a better team after Andy Carroll's £35million sale.
England international set for emotional return to Newcastle
Newcastle's assistant manager John Carver insists they are a better team due to the money that was invested after Andy Carroll's £35million sale.
The towering striker returns to the club for the first time on Sunday after his controversial sale to Liverpool last January.
Carroll has struggled since the move, while the Toon Army have flourished and are now sixth in the table ahead of free-spending Liverpool.
Yohan Cabaye, Demba Ba and Papiss Demba Cisse have all been bought with the money gleaned from the sale of the Gateshead-born number nine, and Carver maintains the transfer was good business for Newcastle.
Money
"The money we got is back on the pitch. Yohan, Demba and Papiss have given us our mettle," Carver told the
Shields Gazette.
"The proof's always in the pudding. You look at the way the new signings have played along with the rest of the team, and the fact that the three foreign players have came in and done so well.
"People talk about the Premier League and it being difficult to play in, and that players have to adjust to it. They haven't just adjusted to it, they've it done it quicker than we all thought.
"Normally it takes longer. I know Demba already had the experience at West Ham, but the other two have came in and got on with it quite nicely."
Business
Magpies boss Alan Pardew was a very reluctant seller of his prized asset and has kept his own counsel in the main over the deal.
But Carver knows he accepts losing valuable players is just part of football.
"This is how modern football works if you're looking to improve your team," he added.
"Sometimes you have to sacrifice a player, but if you get three players back of the quality that we've got, then it is good business.
"At the time it may have looked like a gamble, but if you're confident of your ability to bring the right players in, as we were on this occasion, it's good for us."
