Carroll: Rapid recovery denied

The striker impressed on his debut in the 3-0 win over Fulham on 1 September before going off with a muscle injury (Getty Images)

Andy Carroll will be out for a "maximum of six weeks" with his hamstring strain, the West Ham United manager, Sam Allardyce, confirmed yesterday.

The striker, on loan from Liverpool, impressed on his debut in the3-0 win over Fulham on 1 September before going off with a muscle injury. Reports yesterday claimed he was making a rapid recovery but Allardyce said that there was "no time-frame" to his return, within the six-week maximum, but admitted Carroll was "improving well".

Carlton Cole will start up front tomorrow lunch-time at Norwich City, and Allardyce advised that he "has got to step in and score goals".