West Ham striker set to be out of action while club take defender on trial

West Ham are set to be without Andy Carroll for up to six weeks following the hamstring injury sustained in Saturday’s 3-0 win against Fulham.

The on-loan striker put in a star performance at the weekend as he inspired the Hammers to victory, before injuring his right leg in a clash with Brede Hangeland after 68 minutes.

The club had hoped that the injury would not be severe, but a scan earlier this week revealed that the England man will be out for between four and six weeks.

And Hammers boss Sam Allardyce admitted he was just minutes away from replacing Carroll with Carlton Cole when the injury occured.

“Another two minutes or so and Andy would have been off as Carlton was ready to come on,” said Allardyce.

“He would have been fatiguing as he hasn’t played as many games as he would have wanted.

“So we were ready to bring him off, but unfortunately, on that last jump, he got hit by Hangeland and twisted his body.”

Carroll could now miss the Hammers’ next four Premier League games including the trips to Norwich City and QPR as well as the home clashes with Sunderland and Arsenal, and the striker will aim to return in time for when West Ham welcome Southampton to Upton Park on October 20.

Meanwhile, it is understood that former Sunderland loanee defender John Mensah has been training with West Ham.

The Ghana international had his contract terminated by Lyon,in the summer, and has been without a club since.

With the Hammers in the market for extra central defensive cover and being forced to look at free agents, a deal is a possibility, should the 29-year-old prove his fitness at Chadwell Heath over the international break.