Newcastle manager Chris Hughton is confident Andy Carroll’s off-field problems will be a thing of the past.
The Magpies striker was fined £1,000 on Monday after admitting assaulting a man in a Newcastle nightclub last December.
The 21-year-old pleaded guilty to common assault and was ordered to pay an additional £2,500 compensation at Newcastle Crown Court.
The impending verdict did not affect Carroll on Saturday as he headed the winner in Newcastle’s 2-1 victory at West Ham, ending a run of five games without a goal.
And Hughton has faith the England Under 21 international will remain focused on his game.
“I’m pleased for the lad himself and everybody that’s supported him around the club,” he told Sky Sports News.
Chapter over
“It’s an episode that’s very much in the past now and we’ll push on from that.
“He’s a lad that is able to put these things behind him, as we saw in his performance on Saturday. It’s good to get that chapter out of the way.”
Last week Carroll was bailed to live with club captain Kevin Nolan after appearing in court charged with assaulting an ex-girlfriend.
It seems to be a positive move so far, with Nolan equalising on Saturday with his fourth of the season before Carroll claimed his fifth, and Hughton is glad Nolan is looking out for his young striker.
“Kevin looks after him very well,” added the Toon boss.
“I think he arranges his supper at the right time and makes sure he’s tucked in on time to get a full night’s sleep!
“If the two of them continue to score the goals and put in the performances they did at West Ham then I’m quite happy with that arrangement.”
