West Ham striker Andy Carroll has backed himself to make the England World Cup squad ahead of next summer’s tournament in Russia.
Carroll, who made his England debut back 2010 under Fabio Capello, has not made an appearance for the Three Lions in over five years.
However, after having returned to full fitness and enjoying a run in the team at West Ham, the striker believes he can once again prove his worth on the biggest stage to manager Gareth Southgate.
“It would be nice to be in the squad,” he told Sky Sports. “It is nice to be spoken about in that way.
“All I have got to do is work hard and hopefully get the call, but at the minute I am focused on getting fully fit here, scoring goals and getting good results.
“If I deserve it, hopefully I will get the call.”
Injuries and poor form have kept Carroll off the international scene for the past half decade, however the former Liverpool and Newcastle man – who has seen clubs spend in excess of £50 million on him over the years – feels he can still offer something to England.
“I am confident of what I can do and it is different to what they have got at the minute,” Carroll added. “I am fully confident of my ability.
“I am feeling good; I am feeling a lot sharper than I did at the beginning of the season, getting back fit. I have had a run of games. In training, I feel a lot sharper, not 100 per cent yet but I am getting there.”
