Liverpool secured the record signing of England striker Andy Carroll from Newcastle United on January 31, 2011. With power, pace and a penchant for rippling the net, our new No.9 is one of the brightest prospects in British football. Carroll knows all about playing in a pressured environment having worn Alan Shearer's legendary shirt in front of the Toon Army. Liverpool's scouts first become aware of his abilities having seen him at close hand during the FA Youth Cup semi-final in March 2007. Although Newcastle were well beaten, Carroll scored in the first leg at St James' Park and was a real handful throughout. Liverpool and Newcastle legend Kevin Keegan once described Carroll as 'Probably in the top three headers of a ball I have ever seen in football.' After graduating through the Toon Academy, he became Newcastle's youngest ever European debutant when he played against Palermo during a 1-0 UEFA Cup win in 2006 at the age of 17. The striker scored his first senior goal against Juventus in a friendly on July 29, 2007. After the game the Juventus 'keeper Gianluigi Buffon tipped Carroll to have a big future. He then fired his first league goal on his full home debut against West Ham on January 10, 2009. Despite Newcastle's relegation from the top flight in 2008-09, they made an instant return after a Carroll-inspired season in the Championship. Defences were sick of the sight of this marauding hitman as he hit 19 goals.