Last updated on .From the section Football

West Ham striker Andy Carroll has been ruled out for between five and six weeks with a hamstring injury.

The 23-year-old withdrew from England's World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Ukraine after limping off 68 minutes into his

A scan has revealed that Carroll's hamstring injury is serious, ruling him out of one Capital One Cup and four Premier League games.

Carroll joined the Hammers

The former Newcastle United forward now faces a race to be fit for England's next World Cup qualifying double-header, against San Marino and Poland, in early October.

England start their qualifying campaign at the Zimbru Stadium in Moldova on Friday, before facing Ukraine at Wembley next Tuesday.

Carroll played a key role in two of West Ham's goals in Saturday's 3-0 win over Fulham.

"We were ready to bring him off and unfortunately on that last jump he got hit by Brede Hangeland," said Hammers boss Sam Allardyce.