Andy Carroll has been “his own worst enemy” in his attempts to overcome a string of injuries, according to West Ham medical chief Gary Lewin.
Carroll is in line to make his return from a groin injury on Monday, when West Ham host Huddersfield at the London Stadium, but doubts over his long-term fitness continue to stalk the 28-year-old striker.
Since joining West Ham in five years ago, initially on loan before signing for £15million a year later, Carroll has managed only 114 appearances for the Hammers.
And Lewin, who replaced Stijn Vandenbroucke as West Ham’s head of medical services earlier this summer, admitted Carroll’s desire to get on the pitch had exacerbated his fitness issues.
“He is such a robust, physical player,” Lewin told the Newham Recorder. “Coming in cold on what has happened to him before, I think he was his own worst enemy. Once he could train he wants to play and when he plays there is no holding back.
“He does want to play, that is all he wants to do. You hear a lot of nonsense about him not wanting to play, seriously he just wants to play football.
“Although that is a strength, it is also a problem because we have to manage him, but it is a good problem to have.”
In Pictures | Newcastle vs West Ham | 26/08/2017
Carroll’s most recent injury has kept him sidelined since mid-April but Lewin is hopeful that the former England international will be available for Slaven Bilic in Monday’s crucial match, with pressure mounting on the manager after defeat in his opening three league games of the season.
“He has been training for just over two weeks and with the international break it will be even more by the time we get to Huddersfield, so he will be ready to start playing,” Lewin added.
“When he does come back, it will be a gradual thing, you can’t just throw him in at the deep end.”
