West Ham striker Andy Carroll says he can be 'unplayable' and believes he will win the ball every time it is put in the box.

The imposing frontman, who scored a stunning eight-minute hat-trick against Arsenal on Saturday, is full of confidence ahead of his side's FA Cup quarter-final replay against Manchester United on Wednesday night.

'I like to say that if the ball comes in the box I feel I am favourite,' Carroll told the Telegraph.

Andy Carroll (centre) trains ahead of West Ham's FA Cup quarter-final replay against Manchester United

The imposing striker scored an eight-minute hat-trick against Arsenal in the 3-3 draw at Upton Park last week

Carroll says he can be 'unplayable' in the box and feels like the 'favourite' whenever he challenges for the ball

HEAD BOYS The Premier League's leading scorers with headers this season: 5 - Andy Carroll, Michail Antonio (both West Ham), Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) 4 - Graziano Pelle (Southampton), Mame Biram Diouf (Stoke), Shane Long (Southampton), Georginio Wijnaldum (Newcastle), Sergio Aguero (Man City), Romelu Lukaku (Everton) Advertisement

'I don't think that anyone else is going to get it - so if that is unplayable, I am unplayable.

'I think it's all about timing. If you get the timing right and the jump right you are the favourite - it doesn't matter how tall you are.

'If I go in the box I am going to get marked and held. I don't get many pens from someone holding on to me. It's pointless, a waste, so I just try to stay out as late as possible and read the flight of the ball. Soon as I have read the flight, I know if I am going to make it or not.'

He added that Chelsea centre half Gary Cahill is especially tough to play against.

'I think Gary Cahill’s very good. It’s always tough against him. He’s a great defender and I got to know him with England as well,' he said.

The former Newcastle frontman powers a header into the back of the net against a shell-shocked Arsenal

ANDY CARROLL KEY STATS Newcastle (2006-11) - 80 games, 31 goals Preston (loan - 2007-08) - 11 games, 1 goal Liverpool (2011-13) - 44 games, 6 goals West Ham (loan - 2012-13) - 24 games, 7 goals (2013-present) - 50 games, 14 goals *Stats for league games only England caps: 9 Goals: 2 Advertisement

'He’s very tough, he recovers well, he intercepts. He tries to double bluff you. With a lot of defenders, if I go up for a header, the defender will usually go up too. Against him (Cahill) I go up and flick it on and find out he has just dropped off to pick it up. That makes me think I have to be aware next time. He’s a good defender.'

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal is aware of the threat Carroll poses ahead of his side's trip to Upton Park.

'I have seen the Andy Carroll show,' he said.

'I think our problem (in the 3-0 loss to Tottenham) was also the miscommunication of our central defenders. I hope that we improve our communication because it is a very important this game for us.

'He has special qualities. We have seen that in the match that he played on Saturday. It was also against Arsenal and they have great central defenders. So we have to cope with Carroll but also with other players — they have a certain player named (Dimitri) Payet, he can also play.'

Carroll, 27, has scored seven goals in 25 appearances in all competitions this season and some believe he should be included in England's Euro 2016 squad as a wildcard striking option.

Carroll played for England at Euro 2012 and some think he could be an effective wildcard option for Euro 2016

Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer doesn't believe his fellow Geordie should be in Roy Hodgson's squad, however.

'I was with him at Newcastle so I know the ability he has — when he gets the right delivery he is unplayable. But we have seen that ability for three or four games in a row before, then he goes and gets injured,' Shearer wrote in his Sun column.