Newcastle are ready to hand Andy Carroll a lifeline - if the injured striker can get back to full fitness after an ankle operation.
Carroll is a free agent after West Ham decided not to renew his contract after he underwent surgery in April following another season ravaged by injuries.
But Sunday Mirror Sport understands that new Toon boss Steve Bruce is monitoring the 30-year-old's rehabilitation.
And Bruce is looking into the possibility of offering Carroll a pay-as-you-play deal in a bid to add some attacking options to his undermanned attack.
Carroll, born in Gateshead, has been training with West Ham in a bid to get himself back into playing condition.
He scored just one goal in 14 appearances for Manuel Pellegrini's men last season.
And in the last three years with the Hammers, he has only scored 11 times in 54 matches as injury issues have derailed a career that promised so much when he broke through at Newcastle as a teenager.
Newcastle have lost forwards Ayoze Perez, Salomon Rondon and Joselu in a summer when manager Rafa Benitez's contract was not renewed.
And Bruce desperately wants to add some firepower to his team.
Carroll's fearless approach made him a fans' favourite at St James' Park before Liverpool swooped to buy him in a £30million deal in January 2012.
He went to the Euros with England later that year, but fell out of favour at Anfield when Brendan Rodgers replaced Kenny Dalglish as manager.
Carroll moved to West Ham – initially on a season-long loan – after returning from Ukraine and Poland.
And the move was made permanent 12 months later when the Hammers paid £15million.
The London club decided not to offer Carroll a new deal when his contract expired at the end of last season.
But Carroll has vowed to get himself back on the pitch – and an emotional return to St James' Park will give him even more motivation.
