ANKLE INJURY RULES ANDY CARROLL OUT OF THE SEASON

Andy Carroll’s West Ham career looks to be over after ankle surgery that is set to rule him out for the rest of the season.

The 30-year-old striker’s £90,000-a-week contract expires in the summer and he is unlikely to be offered a new deal.

Carroll had the operation to fix a long-standing injury that flared up again last month. The surgery means Carroll is almost certain to miss the final six games of the season and his time at West Ham looks to be coming to an end. Carroll has been plagued by injuries since he joined West Ham from Liverpool for around £15million in 2013.

West Ham have an option to trigger a two-year extension on his contract but, while they have not made a final decision on whether he will be offered a new deal, manager Manuel Pellegrini is wary of his injury record.

Carroll has made just four starts this season, scoring only one goal in a 2-0 FA Cup win over Birmingham in January, and his departure would free up money on the wage bill. The former England forward has not featured since he faced Manchester City on February 27.

The injury means that, for the fourth time in his six years at West Ham, he will have failed to make 20 appearances in all competitions.

A move to the MLS in America could be an option for the striker this summer.