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West Ham have been rocked by a fresh knee injury to Andy Carroll which will keep the striker out for four to six weeks.

The 27-year-old marksman is understood to have picked up the problem after making a substitute appearance in Thursday night’s Europa League game against Astra Giurgiu.

The injury is not thought to be long term, but it has left the club frustrated coming just days after new £20million signing Andre Ayew was ruled out for four months.

West Ham had hoped Carroll was over the injury nightmare that wreaked havoc on their ambitions and his own campaign last season.

Boss Slaven Bilic is said to be regretting his decision to bring Carroll on against Astra instead of giving young Ashley Fletcher some game time.

(Image: West Ham United via Getty/AMA/Getty)

Carroll, hoping to force his way into the England picture under former boss Sam Allardyce this season, was a 63rd minute substitute in Romania.

Although the frontman had had a slight problem ahead of the Chelsea game it was felt that is was worth the gamble of playing him at Stamford Bridge on Monday night.

But Bilic is now ruing his decision not to then rest Carroll for today’s game against Bournemouth.