Andy Carroll’s injury-plagued West Ham career is over after undergoing ankle surgery.

The striker sustained an ankle injury last month, leaving him in a race against time to play again this season.

And Sportsmail understands the striker has gone under the knife in an effort to cure the long-standing problem.

Andy Carroll's West Ham career is over after he was forced to undergo ankle surgery again

The operation means Carroll is now virtually certain to miss the remainder of the campaign

His contract is due to expire this summer and West Ham have no intention of renewing his deal

The operation means Carroll is now virtually certain to miss the remainder of the campaign, with his contract at the London Stadium due to expire after the Premier League clash against Watford on May 12.

Carroll will now turn his attentions to recovering and getting fit as he looks to find a new club and kick start his career next season.

It is understood the Hammers are yet to officially inform the 30-year-old of their final decision over his future.

But it is believed West Ham have no intention of offering Carroll a new deal.

Carroll missed the first four months of the season after an earlier ankle operation.

The striker already missed the first four months of the season after an earlier ankle operation

ANDY CARROLL'S WEST HAM CAREER Games Played: 142 Games Started: 95 Minutes Played: 9,054 Goals: 34 Assists: 16 Goals (left-footed): 14 Goals (headed): 16 Goals (right-footed): 4 Goals (inside box): 33 Goals (outside box): 1 Games Won: 52 Win %: 37 per cent Advertisement

He has made 14 appearances since then but he has been sidelined again following another ankle setback.

And the decision to operate means Carroll will not play for West Ham again.

Carroll has scored 34 goals in 142 appearances for West Ham since arriving from Liverpool, initially on loan, in August 2012.

But his seven-year stay has been plagued by injury problems and his final weeks in east London appear likely to go the same way.

However, there was better injury news for Manuel Pellegrini on Sunday when Jack Wilshere returned to action for West Ham Under-23s against Leicester after overcoming a persistent ankle injury.

Wilshere played 66 minutes before being replaced by Mesaque Dju at the London Stadium.

The former Arsenal star, who signed for West Ham in the summer, hasn't featured since facing Newcastle in December.

Jack Wilshere returned to action for West Ham's Under 23s against Leicester U23s on Sunday