Carroll is close to Premier League return

ANDY CARROLL is back in West Ham first-team training as the striker nears a Premier League return. Slaven Bilic will have to decide whether to risk the 28-year-old for their trip to boyhood club Newcastle United in two weeks but the West Ham boss is more likely to wait until after the international break. Carroll (pictured in training last season) left Newcastle for Liverpool in a £30million move in 2011. He has been suffering from a thigh injury. His last appearance was at Sunderland on April 15 but Carroll, who has not given up on his England international career, trained yesterday and made it through the session without any hiccups. After the arrival of former Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez for £16million this summer, he will have to fight for his place. Meanwhile, Michail Antonio has been back in training since last Monday and is in line for a return to the match-day squad against Southampton this weekend.