OPINION
Manuel Pellegrini must not bank on Andy Carroll returning from injury in order to ease West Ham’s woes anytime soon.
The 29-year-old has been a constant disappointment at the Hammers due to his countless injury problems always rearing their ugly head sooner or later.
Carroll has only managed to play 128 times for the London club which is woeful when you consider that he joined them from Liverpool, initially on loan, ahead of the 2012-13 season.
While the Hammers attacker may not be able to control his ability to stay fit, it’s not like he has consistently delivered the goods for the club when he has been given the all clear either.
Pellegrini’s side have struggled in the early stages of this season shown by the fact they have scored only two goals, while conceding 10, in their opening four league games.
This has seen the Hammers secure zero points from their first four league matches and it’s clear that trouble is brewing at the London Stadium if Pellegrini doesn’t turn it around fast.
The experienced manager is no doubt searching high and low for players who can solve the Hammers’ troubles at the back as well as increase their firepower and will likely be licking his lips at the thought of Carroll returning shortly.
West Ham’s head of medical Richard Collinge confirmed on Tuesday, as relayed through journalist Sam Inkersole on Twitter, that Carroll was set to be back in training this week.
Collinge also confirmed that Sam Byram, who was on-loan at Nottingham Forest, has had knee surgery. Andy Carroll expected back on the training pitches this week. Winston Reid still some way off but making progress.
— Sam Inkersole (@Sam_InkersoleTM) September 11, 2018
It was previously reported by Claret and Hugh that the Hammers forward, who earns £90,000-a-week (Source: Spotrac), would be fit to feature by Christmas and given Collinge’s update that seems likely to be the case.
Pellegrini will be tempted to rely on Carroll boosting his firepower as the forward, on paper at least, has a lot of things suggesting he could help the Hammers’ cause as he has previously proven himself in the Premier League by scoring 53 goals in 199 outings.
Yet it’s worth nothing that the forward has a terrible time in his 2017/18 campaign, scoring three goals in 16 outings, as he looked a shadow of the player he previously was and his attitude seemed a bit suspect to boot.
There’s no guarantee that Carroll will be able to the hit ground running following his injury nor is there any suggestion that he can drastically improve on his form from his last campaign.
This all means that Pellegrini must not bank of Carroll to returning to the fold to boost his side’s chances of success and ease his woes as if anything, his time at the club suggests he will just continue to be a disappointment.
