Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has admitted that he would welcome the chance to bring Andy Carroll back to the club.

Carroll, 22, left the Magpies for Liverpool last January, but has come under an increasing amount of criticism for his poor performances this season.

Pardew already has 14-goal striker Demba Ba on his books, but has insisted that he would take Carroll back if given the chance.

"You never want to lose great players and we never wanted to lose Andy. I'd take him back if I had the chance," Pardew told The Sun.

"If the fee offered by Liverpool had not been so high, he'd still be here."

Carroll struck 33 goals in 60 starts for Newcastle before making the £35m move to Anfield last January.