Newcastle got relegated that season. First team strikers, Michael Owen, Mark Viduka and Obafemi Martins left the club. Carroll joined Shola Ameobi in attack for Newcastle at the start of the new season. His first league goal in the Championship came on 16 September 2009 against Blackpool with a header. By 2010 Carroll was playing almost every game. He had a new strike partner, Peter Løvenkrands. These two players scored more than half of the club's goals in 2010. Carroll finished the season as Newcastle's top scorer. He had 19 goals in all competitions. 17 were in the league, 2 in cup games.