Andy Carroll to be named on West Ham United bench in "next week or so"

West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce has revealed that striker Andy Carroll could be included in one of his upcoming matchday squads.

The 25-year-old, who permanently signed for the Hammers from Liverpool in the summer, has not featured once this season since suffering an Achilles injury before the campaign.

However, Allardyce has claimed that Carroll is close to making his first-team return after slowly reintegrating himself into training with his teammates.

"Andy Carroll is training today and hopefully we'll see him on the bench in the next week or so," Allardyce said in a press conference.

The Hammers are preparing to take on Manchester City in the first leg of the Capital One Cup semi-final tomorrow.