Andy Carroll is expected to return to the West Ham United squad for the game against Stoke City on Monday night.
Andy Carroll is fast becoming a forgotten man at West Ham and indeed in the Premier League.
Injury-prone Carroll has played just 14 games for West Ham this season, scoring only two goals – albeit two very important goals in a win over West Bromwich Albion.
The big Geordie has played only 124 matches for the Hammers in six seasons and netted just 32 goals in that time.
West Ham co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold have been criticised by supporters over a lack of spending, particularly after promises to sign a marquee striker on moving to the London Stadium failed to materialise.
But is it any wonder after having their fingers so badly burned with the signing of Carroll, a deal which has cost the club a staggering £50 million and counting.
With a wage of £90,000 per week – as widely reported by the likes of The Mirror, Carroll has cost the Hammers £48 million so far based on his salary, initial loan fee from Liverpool and his eventual £18 million permanent fee – a then club record.
And that figure will undoubtedly pushed over £50 million when goal bonuses and other such clauses are taken into account.
The eye-watering amount means Carroll has cost the Hammers £1.5 million per goal since joining the East Londoners.
While nobody doubts Carroll’s quality and commitment when he takes to the field fully fit, question marks over his commitment off the pitch and his injury record are a huge source of frustration for the club and its fans.
When he is fit and firing there are not many better all-round forwards in the Premier League. But that is half the problem, he very rarely is.
West Ham simply cannot rely on injury-prone striker former England man anymore and have wasted years trying to build teams to get the best out of his attributes.
David Sullivan has previously admitted he would never have signed Carroll had he known how the move would pan out while supporters feel the club should have known what they were getting themselves into by signing the striker given his injury record prior to joining the club on a deal which runs until 2019.
Carroll has become little more than an expensive bonus for West Ham.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
