Andy Carroll is excited to be part of a new striking partnership that is developing at West Ham United and has nothing but praise for the way Michail Antonio has established himself as one of the top performers in the Premier League this season.

Carroll has enjoyed a number of big name partnerships during his career including playing alongside Luis Suarez, Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen.

But the Hammers forward is now reaping the rewards of playing alongside Antonio in the West Ham attack having scored three goals in the last two games.

Antonio has assisted two of the goals including the perfect cross against Crystal Palace which saw Carroll score a memorable scissor kick.

Carroll has no doubts that Antonio has everything in his game to be a major star in the top flight and feels they can become a formidable strike force.

Carroll said: “Michail is great to play alongside and he is non-stop. He works hard and he has played in almost every position since he joined the Club.

“He has strength, power, finishing and hold up play has been great and he has probably been our best player.

“It is incredible to see the journey he has gone on and he says he was a lifeguard. I could not believe it and now he is getting a call-up for England. I think it is a dream for him.

“He has gone through all the stages to play in the Premier League and for his country so credit to him for the determination he has got and he is showing that every week for West Ham which is great.

“We have not played together a lot so when we do link up in training it is good because we talk a lot and we do understand each other. It was difficult at the start because we were going for the same balls and we joked that we were getting in each others way because we are trying to make the same runs!

“But we are now coming together and it is great to have a partner like him upfront.”

Carroll has nothing but praise for the impact the West Ham fans have had on the team in the last two games and says they have played a major role in helping them get their season back on track.

We got in the dressing room after the Palace game and the only thing we were talking about was the fans. We were not speaking about the goals or the result, but how good the fans were. Andy Carroll

The West Ham striker has no doubts that everyone at the club came together following the fall-out from the Dimitri Payet transfer exit and hopes it will be another special atmosphere at London Stadium on Wednesday night when they face Manchester City.

Carroll added: “I think the team have been fantastic and we have all stuck together. We are all friends and we all know what it means.

“With everything going on it shows we are a team, everyone is united and everyone is sticking together. When we go out on the pitch we all want to fight for one another.

“We got in the dressing room after the Palace game and the only thing we were talking about was the fans. We were not speaking about the goals or the result, but how good the fans were.

“It helped us massively. The Palace game lifted everyone and it was a fantastic atmosphere. I think that is what helped us go into the game against Middlesbrough feeling so confident.

“I can see the London Stadium becoming a fortress if we can re-produce that kind of atmosphere every game. It is a great stadium and it is great to have so many fans there. When the fans get behind you there is no better place.”