Slaven Bilic: 'Massive season for Andy Carroll'

Andy Carroll in action during the Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and West Ham United on April 30, 2016
© Getty Images
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic admits that the 2016-17 campaign is a "massive" season for injury-plagued striker Andy Carroll.

West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic has admitted that it is a "massive" season for striker Andy Carroll.

The 27-year-old has been limited to just 37 Premier League starts over the last three seasons, and has not managed double figures of goals in the top flight since the 2010-11 campaign.

However, Bilic believes that Carroll has the ability to be a 20-goal striker if he manages to make it through the entire season injury free.

"It's a massive one. But we said the same last year. He has done the whole of pre-season. OK, we rested him for a couple of games but that was when he needed a rest, it was nothing down to injury," he told reporters.

"When we wanted to sign the kind of striker who is going to score 20 goals per season, last year statistically his goal rate and assist rate and impact rate is 20 goals a season - minimum.

"But the problem was that because of the number of games he was available it was not 20 goals, it was nine. We hope this season he is going to be injury free."

The Hammers will begin their campaign away to Chelsea on Monday night.

Swansea player Andre Ayew in action during the Barclays Premier League match between Swansea City and Newcastle United at the Liberty stadium on August 15, 2015
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester UnitedMan Utd11003123
2Liverpool11004313
3Chelsea11002113
4Hull City11002113
5Manchester CityMan City11002113
6Swansea CitySwansea11001013
7West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom11001013
8Everton10101101
9Middlesbrough10101101
10Southampton10101101
11Stoke CityStoke10101101
12Tottenham HotspurSpurs10101101
13Watford10101101
14Arsenal100134-10
15Leicester CityLeicester100112-10
16Sunderland100112-10
17West Ham UnitedWest Ham100112-10
18Burnley100101-10
19Crystal Palace100101-10
20Bournemouth100113-20