West Ham United skipper Kevin Nolan feels Andy Carroll is better for leaving Newcastle United.

Carroll's West Ham team-mate and mentor Kevin Nolan admitted the 24-year-old Geordie hero will feel bad if his old club do go down.

Skipper Nolan, 30, said: "He's a hometown boy and everyone wanted a piece of him in Newcastle, it's amazing.

"He was a massive player in a small fish-bowl. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Newcastle is a small fish bowl, but anyone who has been there knows everyone just loves their football and the whole city is about football.

"Andy couldn't get away with doing anything. Even if he went to a restaurant for a meal everyone was on him. Now he is in London he can go out and have a cup of tea without 70 people moaning.

"I'm not saying it's disrespectful but I just think he has matured and learned from his mistakes. London and Liverpool have been good for him.

"Hopefully, it will make him better - I think he is."