According to Michael Owen, the Newcastle United and England forward, time is still on the side of the latest home-grown pretender to Alan Shearer’s St James’ Park throne. However, the former Liverpool and Real Madrid player is not, perhaps, best placed to judge late developers.

Andy Carroll, at 6ft 3in, all arms, legs and bounding enthusiasm, belatedly celebrated last Tuesday’s 20th birthday with his first senior goal, having scored 44 times in 84 games for Newcastle’s junior and reserve teams. At the same age, Owen was a veteran of one World Cup with almost 40 top-flight goals to his name.

“Andy’s just turned 20, so he needs to stake his claim soon,” Owen said. “He has a good eye for goal and can become a very good player.”

Carroll returned from a loan spell at Preston North End 12 months ago with one goal to show from 12 largely uneventful appearances, but caused confusion within the visiting team’s ranks on Saturday every time a long ball was hoisted towards him. Rarely did the focus for Newcastle’s direct football waste possession and it was Carroll’s overbearing presence that enabled Owen to find the space for a tenth goal of the season.

“That was one of my dreams come true,” Carroll said after his headed goal in front of the Gallowgate End. “It was something I will cherish all my life. Hopefully, that’s not it. I love scoring goals.”

That familiar refrain has been unashamedly borrowed from Carroll’s idol, Shearer. Whether Craig Bellamy borrowed anything from him at Newcastle is open to debate, but his smart finish before the break restored parity before Carlton Cole scored his fourth goal in four games.

Gianfranco Zola, the West Ham manager, is determined to keep both players beyond the transfer window. “This team is growing up and it would be a pity not to see it finish the season together,” he said.

Newcastle United (4-4-2): S Given 7 — S Taylor 5, F Coloccini 5, S Bassong 6, J Enrique 6 — D Duff 7, D Guthrie 6, Gérémi 5 (sub: C N’Zogbia, 62min 5, J Gutiérrez 6 — A Carroll 8, M Owen 8. Substitutes not used: S Harper, Xisco, T Kadar, D Edgar, K LuaLua, R Donaldson. Booked: Guthrie. Next: Blackburn Rovers (a).

West Ham United (4-4-2): R Green 6 — L Neill 6, J Collins 5, M Upson 5, H Ilunga 6 — V Behrami 6, S Parker 9, M Noble 7 (sub: H Mullins, 86), J Collison 6 (sub: L Boa Morte, 76) — C Cole 8, C Bellamy 8 (sub: D Di Michele, 81). Substitutes not used: M Stech, J Faubert, D Tristán, J Tomkins. Next: Fulham (h).