Wednesday 13 January 2016 15:45, UK
West Ham forward Andy Carroll is set for another spell on the sidelines after suffering a hamstring injury in Tuesday’s 3-1 win at Bournemouth.
Carroll joined West Ham from Liverpool initially on loan in August 2012 before making the move to east London permanent at the end of that season for £15m.
But the 27-year-old has been beset by injuries during his three-and-a-half years at the club. Here we take a look at his catalogue of recent complaints…
September-October 2012 (hamstring, missed three matches)
Carroll made a great start to his West Ham career, producing a superb debut performance in the 3-0 victory over Fulham at the Boleyn Ground. Having signed on a season-long loan from Liverpool two days earlier, the towering striker was immediately drafted into the starting line-up and played a major role in Kevin Nolan's third-minute opener. Carroll tormented Fulham's defence and was virtually unplayable as the Hammers went into the interval three goals to the good. But his joy was short-lived as he suffered a hamstring injury in the 68th minute after an aerial challenge with Fulham defender Brede Hangeland. He missed the draws with Norwich and Sunderland before making his return as a second-half substitute at Queens Park Rangers on October 1.
November 2012-January 2013 (knee, missed 11 matches)
Carroll had returned to the West Ham first team following his hamstring injury and netted his first goal for the club in the 3-1 defeat to Tottenham at White Hart Lane. However, only a week later he twisted his knee in the 1-0 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford and was left facing another spell on the sidelines. He was withdrawn just after the hour mark and subsequently missed two months of the season, returning as a substitute in the 3-1 loss at Fulham on January 30.
May-September 2013 (heel, missed four matches)
After returning from injury, Carroll enjoyed a superb end to the 2012-13 season, scoring six times in 10 matches. He played the full 90 minutes of West Ham's 4-2 victory over Reading on the final day of the season, despite picking up a heel injury. Despite this, West Ham decided to take up the option to make Carroll's move to the club permanent, paying Liverpool £15m. He missed the start of pre-season training because of the heel injury, but soon returned to training and was expected to make his return against Southampton on September 15.
September 2013-January 2014 (foot, missed 21 matches)
Despite that hope, Carroll suffered a fresh injury - this time to his foot - and was ruled out until the New Year. He sustained the injury in training and, although the problem suffered was in the same foot, West Ham insisted the ailment was new. Carroll travelled to Antwerp in Belgium in an attempt to cure the problem and went under the care of Belgian physiotherapist Lieven Maesschalck. He returned in January as a substitute in the 2-0 victory over Cardiff City, setting up midfielder Mark Noble for West Ham's second goal. He scored two goals in 16 games as West Ham maintained their Premier League status, finishing 13th.
July-November 2014 (ankle, missed 11 matches)
Carroll returned to pre-season training and had been looking forward to beginning his first season free of injury since 2012. However, his injury jinx struck again during the club's pre-season tour of New Zealand when he tore his ankle ligaments in training and was quickly sent to undergo surgery in Baltimore in the United States. Having returned to England, he began his rehabilitation and made his return as a substitute in the goalless draw with Aston Villa in November, nearly scoring just minutes into his first match since May.
February-September 2015 (knee, missed 24 matches)
Carroll had scored five times in 16 appearances before suffering another injury blow that ruled him out for the rest of the 2014-15 season and the beginning of the following campaign. Carroll replaced Diafra Sakho after 55 minutes against Southampton at St Mary's, but lasted just 20 minutes. He suffered the injury following a challenge with Southampton defender Maya Yoshida. Carroll left the south coast on crutches and underwent knee surgery a week later. He would not play again for West Ham until September, making his return against former club Newcastle in a 2-0 victory at the Boleyn Ground.
January 2016-? (hamstring)
With only one goal to his name - a winner in the 2-1 victory over Chelsea in October - Carroll had come in for criticism from a section of West Ham supporters. However, two winning goals in two matches over the festive period put him firmly back in the good books of those doubting fans.
Manager Slaven Bilic insisted it was key Carroll remained fit to stand any chance of earning a spot in England's squad for the European Championships, but after only 12 minutes against Bournemouth, the forward was walking down the tunnel this time clutching his hamstring.
