West Ham striker Andy Carroll will not be ready to face Tottenham Hotspur this weekend despite reports he was set to return from injury after the international break, according to club insiders Claret and Hugh.
The Hammers news site, which has extensive links within the London Stadium, report that Carroll is likely to return from his ankle injury in November, as previously reported.
Claret and Hugh claim that the 29-year-old striker is yet to return to full training, and the £90,000-a-week star [Spotrac] is set to feature in a training ground friendly before any return to competitive action after so many months out.
OPINION
This is a blow for West Ham after it was reported that Carroll may be set to return earlier than expected, but in truth it is not an unexpected one. Carroll’s plethora of injury problems over his career mean that nothing is a surprise when it comes to his fitness, and this update is no different. A November return was always mooted for the 29-year-old, and it looks like it will stay that way. It would even not be surprising to see Carroll take longer than that to return, but it does look like he is on the right track. When he does return it will be a big boost for the club, who have struggled in many ways up front this season. Star striker Marko Arnautovic has been in brilliant form and has picked up where he left off last season, but their other alternatives have not been so good. Javier Hernandez has been suffering from illness and poor form, and summer signing Lucas Perez has failed to fire since his £4million move from Arsenal.
