Hammer blow as Carroll and Reid crocked
WEST HAM striker Andy Carroll will be sidelined for at least three months and requires surgery after seriously injuring his ankle during pre-season in Switzerland. Carroll, 29, will fly back to London after the latest setback in this injuryplagued career and Manuel Pellegrini will look at possible replacements. Defender Winston Reid, 30, will also return to the capital for surgery on his knee and is out for at least three months. Both players had injury problems last season. ‘This is a big blow, but we hope to see them back in action as soon as possible,’ manager Pellegrini said. ‘We’ll continue to work hard with the owners to make further additions to the playing squad.’ So far, West Ham have signed Jack Wilshere, Andriy Yarmolenko, Issa Diop, Lukasz Fabianski and Ryan Fredericks. West Ham’s new head of medical Richard Collinge said: ‘Scans have revealed Andy requires some minor surgery to provide more strength and stability to the area. ‘Winston has been suffering some swelling around the knee injury that he sustained at Swansea last season and he too is in need of explorative surgery to clean up the area.’ Meanwhile, West Ham will complete the club record signing of Brazilian Felipe Anderson from Lazio for £38million today after he flew to London last night ahead of his medical.