West Ham striker Andy Carroll is a 'modern day Duncan Ferguson,' says ex Arsenal defender Martin Keown

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Andy Carroll, who is set to play his 100th league match for West Ham, reminds me of Duncan Ferguson.

There are plenty of big centre forwards but few who have the spring of these two.

With Ferguson’s height, you had to get it absolutely right to beat him to an aerial ball. The Everton striker would also use his huge physique to try to pin you, or to wrestle you out of the path of the ball. To get the better of him, you had to have the element of surprise.

Andy Carroll towers over Huddersfield’s Christopher Schindler (No 26) and Mathias Jorgensen

Andy Carroll is reminiscent of a modern day Duncan Ferguson in his playing style

The 28-year-old has played in 99 of West Ham's 192 games since joining the Hammers in 2012 and scored a total of 30 goals and winning over half of his aerial duels

Christopher Schindler, the Huddersfield defender who faced Carroll as West Ham won 2-0 on Monday night, will have enjoyed many a battle with physical strikers in the Championship, but none with the athleticism of Carroll.

The West Ham striker is like Tarzan flying through the air. He is utterly fearless and throws himself at the ball. 

On Saturday it will be West Brom's defenders trying to find a way to block his flight path at set-pieces.

Carroll came up against a robust opponent in Schindler but that inspired him to go up a gear. 

He loves the rough-and-tumble of battling defenders.

Everton icon Duncan Ferguson towered above most players and then got up even higher

It is difficult to replicate the intensity of Carroll’s play in training. It looks like he gives super-human effort to everything he does on the field. 

The way he plays is so demanding on his body and he will only improve his fitness by playing more games.

When Carroll is out injured, he is criticised as an expensive luxury. But when he is available, he completely changes the way West Ham play.

Carroll is exactly what they needed to kick-start their season.