West Ham United midfielder Kevin Nolan has praised team-mate Andy Carroll and believes that the striker is starting to show his all-round prowess on the pitch.
Carroll, who scored two goals and assisted five in an injury interrupted Premier League campaign last season, has already notched up five and assisted one in his 12 league appearances this season so far.
Sam Allardyce’s team are currently sitting seventh in the league, a far cry from their travails of last season and the 26-year-old has been one of the standout performers for the Hammers as they look to mount a challenge for a finish in the European places.
Talking to the club site, Nolan said there is more to Carroll’s game than just his aerial prowess.
"People obviously see him for his aerial ability, but he's got a lot of ability on the floor and you've seen that in a couple of his goals – Swansea and the finish against Leicester.”
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Carroll assisted the 81st minute header by Diafra Sakho in their 1-0 fourth round FA Cup win over Bristol City on Sunday, and Nolan believes it is the lanky striker’s return to full fitness that is working wonders for him.
“Now he's getting to full fitness everything is going really well for him and I'm delighted. After the tough time he's had with injuries he's come back with hunger and desire.
“A lot of people sat there and gave him a lot of stick, but he's starting to show what he's all about. Now everyone's talking about him for the right things”, Nolan concluded.
In an enticing Premier League clash, seventh placed West Ham will take on eighth placed Liverpool in their next fixture at Anfield on Saturday. Allardyce's team will aim for a win to restore their top four credentials.
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