Slaven Bilic could be handed a major boost before the end of the month – in the very large shape of striker Andy Carroll.
The London Evening Standard claim that his return from a knee ligament injury could come before the Hammers play Carroll’s former club Liverpool on the 29th of this month.
His last game was in February, and he has spent 6 months on the treatment table as he required surgery to repair his damaged knee – but his manager is optimistic he’ll return to boost an already very impressive Hammers squad.
The news comes at an excellent time, as Bilic has to come to terms with the fact that Enner Valencia will miss around 3 months of action through injury. Carroll himself cannot wait to get back on the pitch:
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been on this pitch, but it’s not long to go now and I’m looking forward to being back,”
The England international has seen his career take him from Newcastle to Merseyside but he hopes to impress further in London as the Hammers prepare to move to the Olympic Stadium ahead of the 2016-17 Premier League season.
“It’s the last season at the Boleyn Ground so I’m looking forward to being here and playing here and getting back and getting a few goals here.”
As for West Ham’s other crocked stars, the club’s Head of Medical and Sports Science, Stijn Vandenbroucke, has confirmed to the Official Site the situation of our injury table.
Pedro Obiang is back training after a leg injury and is available for selection this weekend, but that’s where the good news ends.
Young left-back Lewis Page faces up to six weeks on the sidelines with an ankle ligament injury suffered in the away leg against FC Astra last week.
Joey O’Brien will also miss this weekend’s visit of Leicester with a hamstring injury, but will return to training on Sunday.
Finally, Enner Valencia is continuing his rehabilitation following a knee and ankle injury suffered in the first leg against FC Astra.
