West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic backs fit-again Andy Carroll to fire

Andy Carroll has featured only twice in the Premier League this season after four months out with a hip injury. He fired three of West Ham's six shots on goal in Saturday's 0-0 draw at West Bromwich Albion.

Slaven Bilic, Andy Carroll, West ham United, West Bromwich Albion

Andy Carroll will get sharper as the season moves ahead. (Source: AP)

Striker Andy Carroll will get sharper as the season goes on and can play a crucial role for West Ham United in the latter half of the season, manager Slaven Bilic has said. Carroll has featured only twice in the Premier League this season after four months out with a hip injury. He fired three of West Ham’s six shots on goal in Saturday’s 0-0 draw at West Bromwich Albion.

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Bilic, under pressure after a tough start to the league campaign that has seen West Ham lose three out of five games, backed Carroll to swell the team’s poor tally of four goals.

“This was his second game and he looks fit and he looks competitive and the quality will come through the games,” Bilic told the club’s website (www.whufc.com).

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“It’s a big boost for us and long may it continue… It is very important for him to get the games under his belt. He looks good now, touch wood.”

West Ham are 17th in the league table and host fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, who have collected eight points from five games, on Saturday.