England v France: Andy Carroll will be Newcastle and England hero if he sorts out private life, says Alan Shearer

Shearer, who was Carroll's boyhood hero, believes that the striker can prosper for the full national side but only if can learn from the off-field mistakes that have punctuated his career.

He spoke out as Carroll tries to overcome injury concerns to make his full England debut against France at Wembley on Wednesday, a game that be the latest episode in an eventful season for the player who has scored seven Premier League goals for Newcastle but also made plenty of front-page headlines.

"You have to judge these guys on what they do on the football pitch," Shearer said. "They are young guys with a lot of money and he is a young single guy so unfortunately you are going to have scrapes.

"We all make mistakes, but the thing you have to do is learn from those mistakes. If he can do that and prove he can do that in the months and years to come then of course he should be included in the England squad."

"I know he got lots of goals in the Championship last year and the question was always can he continue doing that in the big league and you have to say the early signs are very encouraging if he can stay on the straight and narrow.

"That is a big if because of what he has been into in the past and he is only young but you have to give youngsters chances and he has had one or two already but if he can channel that in the right direction then he can be some player."

Shearer, who scored 30 goals in 63 England appearances, briefly managed Carroll during his spell as interim Newcastle manager and has been impressed by his progress.

"You have to judge these guys on what they do on the football pitch," Shearer added. "Who is playing better than him? Nobody. Who is scoring more goals than him? Nobody.

"He has come on in leaps and bounds over the last 18 months," Shearer added. "I always knew he had talent, but this has come a bit quicker than I thought it would.

"In no way is he the finished article but the signs are very encouraging. I believe get him in there and let's have a look at him because we have seen the old guard for many years and we have seen what has happened and now there is a bit of fresh blood coming along.

Shearer believes there is more to Carroll's game than his 6ft 3in frame would suggest.

"He is something very different. He is big and strong and will hold the ball up," Shearer said. "If you want to go in a different direction if things aren't working for you, if you want to have a plan B - though I'm not saying he can't play in a plan A - and you want to go long, then there is nobody better than him.

"If you want to change the system and go long to him then there is no one going to be better than him and not many players who can beat him in the air.

"But you don't have to kick and rush with him. You don't have to. He has got a decent touch. He will run into the corners and he will score goals which as a centre-forward you have to do."