Andy Carroll to miss four months?

West Ham United striker Andy Carroll is reportedly facing a four-month spell on the sidelines after sustaining an ankle injury in the club's tour of New Zealand.

The 25-year-old forward will undergo surgery on the joint in America on Friday after suffering a knock ahead of the 2-1 defeat to Wellington Phoenix on Wednesday.

The player himself has taken to Twitter, revealing that he is "absolutely devastated" to miss the Hammers' start to the Premier League season.

He tweeted: "Going under the knife tomorrow morning and absolutely devastated to be missing the start of the season."

However, according to BBC Sport, Carroll may be out of action until December as the report claims that the England international has damaged his ligaments.

Carroll saw his 2013-14 campaign blighted by injury, missing the first half of West Ham's season with a foot complaint.