West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce has revealed that striker Andy Carroll could be closing in on a return to action after claiming that his fitness is "improving".

The 23-year-old, who is on a season-long loan at Upton Park from Liverpool, was struck with a hamstring injury on his Hammers debut, where the London outfit blasted three goals past Fulham.

"The leg is improving rapidly," London 24 quotes Allardyce as saying. "Day by day we will assess the situation and the minute we think we can get him back, we will."

Carroll made the move to the former Championship side this summer after one full season at Anfield.