HE'S UP TO THE TASK ... big Andy Carroll outjumps Norway's Alexander Tettey

ANDY CARROLL has finally sorted out his fitness.

And now Liverpool’s £35million striker is determined to prove to the nation that he really is good enough for England.

Carroll, 23, insists he has never been bothered by his price tag — a record for a British player.

Instead, he believes that finally getting a regular run in the Kop side at the tail-end of the season sparked his return to sharpness and scoring form.

With Wayne Rooney suspended for the first two games at Euro 2012 and Danny Welbeck unlikely to be fit, Carroll looks sure to be Roy Hodgson’s choice up front against France in Donetsk on June 11.

Carroll, who won his fourth cap in Saturday’s 1-0 win in Oslo, said: “Now I’ve got a chance to show what I’m about.

“The fee didn’t bother me, I always believed in myself. But things weren’t going for me and I didn’t play as many games as I hoped for Liverpool.

“But finally I did get a run in the side towards the end of the season. I did well,got my confidence up and now I’m here.

“I feel fitter now than I did at the beginning of the season or even halfway through the season. I just needed that run of games.

“Now, I’m feeling good and fresh. At the end of the season I felt like I was moving a lot better and getting involved in games more than I did at the beginning — and it feels great.”

Carroll’s pass set up strike partner Ashley Young’s ninth-minute winner against Norway.

The former Newcastle hitman added: “We scored early then kept the lead well.

“We’ve got a good team and loads of quality players but I gave it my best shot and we’ll see when it comes round.

“It was just a 4-4-2 and a matter of keeping our shape when they had the ball and just to counter-attack.

“Norway had a lot of the ball but when we had our chance we put it away. We kept the ball well and did well.

“I was delighted to be in the squad. The manager wants a big man up front and he’s picked me, so it’s great.”

Manchester United attacker Young, whose goal was his fourth in his last four games for his country, said: “Andy is a strong player, a fantastic player to have in the team.

“You saw in the first five minutes that he can get his head on to something. He will get in the box and score goals.

“I think the goal came from a one-two. It’s something we had been working on during the week and it paid off during the game.”