Newcastle striker Andy Carroll will make his England debut in less than 30 minutes after a promising start to the season and in spite of a groin injury and his well documented off field discretions.

So is he a future England legend, as so many hacks, former pros and Newcastle fans have said, or will he be a one cap wonder as many cynics have suggested? In all probability he will be somewhere in between, as far better better players than he have proved to be. I give you Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney as examples. Ooh, controversial.

Most of the talk surrounding Carroll is not of his ability and potential but of his private life and how that is currently messing up his career. That’s fair enough, it’s true. Capello has offered him a lifeline and a warning, as I’m sure Chris Hughton would if he wasn’t more worried about his own future as Newcastle manager.

But what of his actual talent? He’s done well so far for Newcastle, of that there is no doubt. However, I saw Carroll play at Old Trafford and while he caused problems for Manchester United’s defence in a physical sense – and he wasn’t half sneakily dirty for one so young too – his footballing ability was left lacking.

For me, Carroll can finish. He is strong. He is tall. He is brave. That’s not bad for a striker is it. Except, apart from the finishing, he is a young Emile Heskey. And as we all know, Capello likes a Heskey.

That’s not enough at international level though. Look at Spain. No battering ram, just a supremely skilful squad. At club level Carroll, I’m sure, will do well. At international level he will prove to be a disappointment. Or he’ll prove me wrong and go on to play 100 times and score over 50 goals. But who believes that? Do you?