The big man is back! Hammers boost as £15m Carroll returns to training after seven months out

Andy Carroll returned to training at West Ham’s Chadwell Heath base on Wednesday to hand beleaguered boss Sam Allardyce a huge boost.



The £15million record signing has been given the all clear to continue his rehabilitation from an ankle injury in London after treatment from specialists in Holland and Belgium - and could begin ball work next week.

West Ham have seriously struggled without Carroll, who is training alone to start with as club physios look to ease him into action, and currently lie in 17th just three points above the relegation zone.

Sharp shooter: West Ham fans will be delighted to see their record signing Andy Carroll back in training

Up and running: After a long period of rehabilitation, Carroll has been given the green light to return to training

Touch and go: Carroll does some ball work on the training pitch with physiotherapist Leo Echteld

Big man is back: Carroll enters 'The Cave' - otherwise known as the gym at West Ham's Chadwell Heath HQ

On your bike: Carroll looks happy to be back in training as he bids to return to action after seven months out injured

Jump around: Carroll takes to the trampoline in the club's gym

Carroll told his club’s official website: 'I am so happy to be back here at the training ground around all the lads.



'You don’t realise how much you miss all the banter and other stuff until you are away from it, so it’s great to be here again.



'I flew back a few times during my treatment to watch matches and catch up with my family, team-mates and friends, but now I’m back for good.



'It has been a long, hard process but now I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. It felt great to be out on the pitch jogging and kicking a ball in the open air, even if it was a bit cold!



'It’s been really hard watching the games while I’ve been out. We haven’t picked up the results we have deserved, so I can’t wait to get out there again and start helping the team to win some games.'

On the ball: Carroll spent most of his rehabilitation at the Move to Cure fitness centre in Antwerp with Lieven Maesschalck (R)

Hands on: Carroll worked hard during his rehab in Belgium undergoing a series of excerices

Allardyce has chosen to play without a centre-forward after understudy Modibo Maiga failed to impress and Carlton Cole required time to gain fitness.



Carroll has been commuting between the UK and the two rehab centres in Europe after aggravating an acute ankle injury at the start of September.

He was at Upton Park for the 3-0 win over Fulham but has yet to play for the club since he made his move permanent in the summer.

It is not yet known when the 24-year-old will return to the first-team and Allardyce said the process would not be rushed despite the desperate need.



‘It’s tentative in our approach to it,’ the West Ham manager said last week. ‘We can’t get over-anxious and push him too hard.



‘We need to get him fit to stay fit. Not fit to a point and then he may pick up another injury. That’s what we have to be careful about.’

Missing man: Carroll has not played for West Ham since the final game of last season against Reading