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Andy Carroll out does Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Alexis Sanchez, if only he could stay fit

West Ham United's Andy Carroll celebrates scoring their first goal (REUTERS)
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West Ham United striker Andy Carroll is officially better than Manchester United star Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez… when he’s fit.

West Ham United's Andy Carroll celebrates scoring their first goalWest Ham United’s Andy Carroll celebrates

The Hammers hero looks set to miss another match against Watford this weekend as his persistent injury problems continue to wreak havoc on his career.

Just when the big Geordie looked to be finding fitness and supreme form he has been laid low by a groin problem.

Supporters were told it was only a minor complaint and the striker would be back soon.

But Slaven Bilic has now admitted it has taken longer than expected to clear up.

And that is the story of Carroll’s career.

The all-action striker is often written off as nothing more than a head on a stick.

But when fit he has proved – particularly with some of his goals and performances recently – that he is much more than that.

West Ham United's Andy Carroll celebrates scoring their first goalCarroll has a goal every 1.3 games

Further proof if it was needed comes in the form of a new stat which shows Carroll in fact has a better goals to game ratio than Red Devils superstar Zlatan and Gunners striker Sanchez… just with considerably less games.

Carroll has six goals in 12 Premier League appearances this season, a goal every other game – but it is actually more like six goals in eight games as he has completed just 800 minutes.

Manchester United's Zlatan IbrahimovicManchester United’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Carroll’s ratio based on minutes played in the Premier League is a goal every 1.3 games, better than Sanchez’s ratio of a goal every 1.4 games and Zlatan’s at a goal every 1.6 games.

Who knows what West Ham might achieve if they could just keep him fit.