• Premier League

Carroll return is not good enough, says Allardyce

ESPN staff
January 3, 2013
Andy Carroll has scored just one goal in West Ham colours © PA Photos
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West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce is demanding more goals from striker Andy Carroll, who is set to return from injury by the end of January.

Carroll has been out of action with a knee injury since November, his second significant spell on the sidelines since making his loan move from Liverpool in the summer.

Despite his injury problems, Carroll has still started nine Premier League games for the Hammers this season. Allardyce believes his return of just one goal in that time is not good enough, especially as his other attacking players have been profligate in front of goal recently.

"Andy has only got one goal for us so far and he has to score more," Allardyce is quoted as saying by the Sun. "All of our forwards have got to get better at finishing.

"The only disappointing thing about our win against Norwich [a 2-1 victory at Upton Park on New Year's Day] was the number of chances fluffed."

Carroll is due to step up his recovery this week, and Allardyce is hopeful the 23-year-old will be back in the team before the end of the month.

"I hope it will be no more than three weeks before Andy is playing again," he said. He's not in full training yet but he's due to start running this week.

"The trouble is that because he's such a big lad he's a bit more delicate when he's coming back from a knee ligament injury and we want to make sure he is properly fit and stays that way when he comes back.

"He's missed a huge chunk of games with the two injuries he's had since he joined us."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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