Andy Carroll arrived at West Ham on a year-long loan last summer with big things expected from the powerful striker.
Manager Sam Allardyce was convinced Carroll could fire West Ham United up the league table with his bustling all action performances and teamed him with winger Matt Jarvis.
Between them, Jarvis was – according to OPTA – the top crosser of balls into the box in the Premier League in the previous season and Carroll one of the best headers of a ball in the country, it seemed like a match made in Allardyce heaven.
Carroll started brightly against Fulham on his debut and had a hand in all of West Ham’s goals that day, his all action display lifted the crowd and his team mates, however that joy was short-lived when he picked up an injury just as he was about to be substituted.
Since then Carroll has made several returns from injury and up until last weekend he had only one goal to his name, his solitary strike coming in the defeat at Tottenham.
Without wanting to jinx it, Carroll looked very good and more importantly fit in his return to first team action last weekend when he scored the winner past Swansea.
What with Mo Diame not having left us for pastures new, as well as the return of old boy Joe Cole, Carroll’s return has come at just the right time with West Ham having previously been on a poor run of form and sliding down the league table.
Andy showed in 90 minutes against Swansea what West Ham have been really missing this season with a real powerful performance, holding the ball up well, bringing others in to play and terrorising opposition defenders. It also highlighted what other players like Cartlon Cole and to a lesser extent Modibo Maiga and Marouane Chamakh have failed to deliver for West Ham this season.
I am hoping Mr. Carroll can have an injury free run until the end of the season, and if he can I am positive his performances will reignite West Ham’s faltering campaign and fire us up the league table.
What do you guys make of Carroll’s return?
[…] post Will Andy Carroll’s return from injury reignite West Ham? appeared first on West Ham United […]