Alan Pardew has admitted that he would like to re-sign Andy Carroll from Liverpool.

The Newcastle United manager says he was gutted to lose the striker who is hoping to be given a start against his former club at Anfield on Friday night.

Pardew said: "You never want to lose great players and we never wanted to lose him. I would take him back if I had the chance. If the fee was not as high as it was, then he would still be here.

"It was a decision, as a football manager, which was a very difficult one for me.

"I was 60-40 for keeping him, but for the finances of the club there was a strong opinion upstairs.

"They are my employers. We all looked each other in the eye and said it was going to have to happen."

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