• Premier League

Allardyce: Don't recall comeback Carroll

Kevin Palmer
September 21, 2012
Andy Carroll was injured on his Hammers debut © PA Photos
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West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has revealed Andy Carroll is set to return from injury two weeks ahead of schedule and is set to face Arsenal on October 6th at Upton Park - but he is hoping England manager Roy Hodgson does not rush his return to the international stage.

The on-loan Liverpool striker was expected to be ruled out for much of October with the hamstring problem he picked up on his Hammers debut against Fulham, but Allardyce is confident the big Geordie will be back ahead of the six week shedule he was originally set.

However, the West Ham boss believes recalling Carroll for the World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Poland would put his star striker at unnecessary risk.

"If we are lucky, there is a chance Andy will be available for the Arsenal game," confirms Allardyce. "That will be a week before the international break, but I would need to have a discussion with Roy (Hodgson) before any decision could be made on Andy playing for England. It would be a case of Andy is back, but please be careful with him if he has to play in a World Cup qualifier.

"Andy certainly wouldn't be fit enough to play the full 90 minutes in that Arsenal game, so if he does go with England, I would say they need to be careful on how long they play him for.

"The last thing we would want is to spend all that time to get Andy fit again, play for us, go to England and get a soft tissue injury playing for his country. So there would have to be a bit of a conversation to put the England staff in the picture where Andy would be because of his lack of first-team appearances is a major concern to us.

"I can't tell Roy what to do. If he is fit to play for England it is up to them what they do. All I can express is my situation and Andy's situation for the benefit of ourselves, the benefit of Andy and for the benefit of England."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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