Andy Carroll is hopeful that he can finally kick-start his West Ham United career following his "nightmare" with injuries.

The 25-year-old made a brief cameo in Saturday's 0-0 draw with Aston Villa for what was his first appearance of the season due to ankle injury.

"It's obviously a great feeling to be back on the pitch where I think I belong," he told Sky Sports News. "It's better than being in the gym.

"It's been a nightmare. It's been a killer to be honest, coming back from the end of last season and in the first week of training I find out I need surgery.

"It's been disappointing and devastating and now I've just got to forget about everything that's been going on for the last few months."

Carroll also missed half of the 2013-14 campaign after manager Sam Allardyce spent a club-record £15 million to sign him from Liverpool.

Written by
Shane Callaghan