Andy Carroll’s England recall hopes doused as West Ham boss Slaven Bilic warns that niggling injury is still plaguing the centre-forward
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic has cast doubt on Andy Carroll’s prospects of earning an England recall by revealing that the forward is still struggling with a hip injury.
Carroll’s return to goalscoring form in the New Year has fuelled hopes of a return to the international fold for a player who won his last England cap in October 2012.
But the 28-year-old has not taken part in full training since suffering his latest injury three weeks ago, and Bilic indicated Carroll is likely to miss Saturday’s Premier League trip to Watford.
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“Unfortunately it goes a little bit slower with him – slower than we expected and we hoped for. If he can train [on Friday] then maybe – maybe – he will be in the squad for Saturday,” he said.
“When he’s playing and he’s fit, he’s a top striker. But I told him those small things that are ruining or damaging or affecting his rhythm are no good for him, no good for us, no good for a call up to the England squad.
“A very similar thing happened last year. I remember when he was great in the beginning of the year against Southampton and Liverpool – he slaughtered them – and then against Bournemouth he got injured and didn’t play for a few weeks.
"This is not a big injury, but he needs to play, he needs to be available.”
Carroll has not reached double figures for a season since 2010-11, when he moved to Liverpool from Newcastle in the winter transfer window for £35m – then a record for a British player.
He has six goals in 16 appearances this season, including four in his last four games, however – form that lured England manager Gareth Southgate to the London Stadium to scout Carroll.
Bilic added that he expected the Hammers’ one-time record signing to be available for the visit of Chelsea on Monday 6 March, even if he missed the Watford game.