Andy Carroll suffers further injury setback

Posted Friday, October 21, 2016 by Outside90.com

Andy Carroll's hopes of a return for West Ham have been dealt a blow as his knee injury lingers.

The 27-year-old has failed to hit targets in his rehabilitation since being sidelined with a knee injury sustained in Europa League action against Astra Giurgiu in August.

Manager Slaven Bilic is unwilling to set a return date for the star striker.

"We are all, especially him, very frustrated," the Hammers boss said.

"It's a killer blow knowing how good an influence he was last year for us, whenever he was starting or coming on from the bench."

"I thought he would miss one game, against Bournemouth, and I thought "no". To still be without him… It's a massive blow for us."

"All I know is that it's about weeks — but then it was about weeks at the beginning when it happened. Originally it was four-six weeks and we were fuming about it, it was a shocking prognosis. But now it's way longer than that. He's progressing but it's slower than we expected."

The nine-time England international has only completed the full 90 minutes six times in the Premier League this calendar year and faces an uphill battle to add to that number.

In more positive news for the London side, new signing Andre Ayew is back in training after suffering a thigh injury on debut.