ALAN Pardew is still interested in bringing Andy Carroll back to Newcatle United – and he believes the England striker yearns for a return “home”.

United were involved in negotiations with Liverpool over the summer about a possible loan move but their ambitious bid was dashed by a combination of factors, not least the fact the Anfield hierarchy had little interest in doing business with the club they paid £35million to secure his services a little over a year before.

Carroll (right) subsequently joined close friend Kevin Nolan at Sam Allardyce’s West Ham – the Magpies’ opponents tomorrow in a game that brings back three major figures in Newcastle’s recent past back to the North East.

Despite that disappointment Pardew says he would still “bring him back in a shot”, and has suggested that the prospect of the striker returning to Newcastle is still a live one.

Carroll’s deal with West Ham is until the end of the season and while the Hammers have the option to buy him for the price of £17million, there is a clause that would see any potential transfer collapse if the Gateshead-born striker opted to move elsewhere.

United baulked at the prospect of paying such a large price for the forward in the summer but the interest in him, clearly, remains and Pardew is not writing off the prospect of Carroll’s return happening during his time at St James’.

“He’s a Geordie and I think he misses the city, this is his home and at some point I hope he does come back here,” he said. “Whether that’s in my time I don’t know. I like him, I like working with him and he was brilliant for me.”

The prospect of the Academy graduate returning to the North East will undoubtedly prompt mixed emotions among United fans, who gave him a torrid welcome on his return with Liverpool last year.