Chelsea couldn't handle him! Goal proves Carroll is the best striker in England - Bilic

West Ham's Andy Carroll scored his first goal of the season against Chelsea last weekend

ANDY CARROLL’S aerial ability makes him unplayable, West Ham boss Slaven Bilic believes.

 

Carroll scored his first goal of the season last weekend in West Ham’s 2-1 victory over Chelsea, a result that saw the Blues slip to 15th in the league.

The England international has been slowly recovering his fitness since knee surgery earlier this year but his development was hampered by an ankle problem in late summer.

 

No matter how good they are in the air, it's almost impossible to mark him

Slaven Bilic

But now back up to speed, Bilic believes his front man is the most dangerous striker in the Premier League.

"You can't say that we haven't had a physical presence in the last third without him, we have it and are good in the air, but Andy is perhaps the best in England,” Bilic said.

"When a good ball is delivered, it is basically up to him and not the defenders - no matter how good they are in the air, it's almost impossible to mark him.

"His game is not limited to that, he can play all over the pitch. He has got a sense and feeling for the game.

“He can see the move and two or three moves ahead of that which makes him a great player.”

 

Carroll has endured a number of injury set-backs over his career and is yet to complete 90 minutes this term.

He scored just five goals in 16 appearances for the Hammers last season, having cost the London club £15million when he switched from Liverpool in 2013.

Goals have been in rare supply for the 26-year-old ever since he departed home-town club Newcastle for Anfield in a high-profile but ultimately fateful £35m transfer in January 2011.

 

But Bilic insists Carroll’s time will come, so long as he looks after himself.

“He needs to be more consistent and stay away from injuries - it’s the same old story.

“Four or five years ago he had the same situation as he did on Saturday against Chelsea - scored a goal and got injured two weeks later.

"His quality has never been in doubt, the issue was either being unlucky with injuries or not taking good care of himself.

“He hasn't had the consistency, apart from that one season when he scored a million goals for Newcastle."