Former Newcastle United defender Warren Barton has said that Andy Carroll should return to St. James' Park.

Carroll has been the subject of continued transfer speculation this summer, with his future at Liverpool still in serious doubt.

"I feel it would be a good move for Andy. He knows the area, he is a Geordie boy," Barton told the Daily Star Sunday.

"He made it quite clear all along that he never wanted to leave the club, though he might not have been exactly pushed out the door, the money was ­obviously just too good for Newcastle to turn down."

Barton is the latest ex-Newcastle player to advise Carroll to return to Tyneside, with Alan Shearer also vocal in his support of the transfer.

Carroll is due to fly to the United States to join his Liverpool teammates this week after enjoying an extended holiday following his Euro 2012 exploits.