Newcastle United No2 John Carver says fans can see exactly what they received for the £35 million they sold Andy Carroll to Liverpool for.

It is the huge fee that was picked up for Carroll, that has resulted in stars like Yohan Cabaye, Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse firing the Mags up the table and towards Europe.

Carver told the Evening Chronicle: "The money we got is back on the pitch.

"Yohan, Demba and Papiss have given us our mettle. This is how modern football works if you are looking to improve your team.

"Sometimes you have to sacrifice a player - but if you get three players back of the quality that we've got, then it is good business.

"At the time it may have looked like a gamble.

"But if you are confident of your ability to bring the right players in, as we were on this occasion, it's good for us."