The Magpies number nine believes all the off-field trauma over the last couple of months will only make him stronger. Carroll insists he intends to settle down with his life outside of football after a number of incidents. The 21-year-old was targeted when his brand new Range Rover was torched at the home of United captain Kevin Nolan. And last month, Carroll was relieved to see the back of a long, drawn-out court case following an incident in a city-centre nightclub. Now the England Under-21 says he is now happy to be able to concentrate on delivering the goods in a black-and-white shirt having already netted five goals and provided three assists for his team-mates. He told the Chronicle: "I've just had to forget about it all really and put it to the back of my mind. "I've just had to carry on playing well the way I have done without the problems. I think that's what I've done. Nobby and his missus have helped me a lot. They gave me a place to stay and they've looked after me. "I have to say a big thanks to them, Kev is always there or thereabouts, whether it's at home or anywhere else. "There's been a lot of things going on. But I just need to keep concentrating on my football which I think I've done in the last couple of weeks. He added: "I just have to put everything that has happened behind me now. "I will learn from my mistakes. And I just now want to concentrate on football. "I don't want to be on the front pages anymore, just the back pages. "I just need to keep my head down and I think there's a great group of lads here to help settle me down a bit. "I just want to play the football that I know I can."
