Chadwell Chatter - Andy Carroll

Hello,


I am feeling great at the moment and have been on the pitch most days throughout the week.


Getting ninety minutes under my belt against Reading last week was a great feeling.


I have been training now for a few weeks, but you don't get fully fit by just training. Playing in the game last Friday gives you a lot more match fitness and I feel good after it. There were no niggles and I felt really good throughout the game.


In the past maybe I came back too soon from my previous injuries, but this time I have had a long break and it has been nine months since I had the operation.


I have been working hard over the summer and stayed at the Club. I didn't get a break and have been in every day.


It was about a month to six weeks before I really got involved with the lads so the pre-season I have done has been really hard, but also really good.


It has been a while since I have played for England and if I didn't have injuries I think I would have been in a few of the squads. If I can get goals and games under my belt hopefully I can get back in there.


I don't think about it (the Euro Finals) because it will take away my focus on West Ham and that is the most important thing at the moment. If I do well now hopefully it will happen.


The depth of our squad is good and everyone is getting back to full fitness. The lads who have come in have been fantastic and they have slotted in nicely.


Dimitri Payet has been a fantastic signing and he could go on to become one of the best signings that the Club has seen for years. The quality he has got is fantastic.


In training he is different class and he can pick you out from any area of the pitch. He gets the ball and you know he is going to pick someone out.


Everyone wants to be in the starting XI and it is obviously hard when the lads are doing so well which is a great thing to have in the team.


There is a lot of competition and there are only a few places that can be taken. So I just need to keep working hard, keeping fit and getting into the starting line-up.


We know we are in for a tough game on Saturday and we cannot expect any team to be a turnover.


We need to go to Palace and keep working hard like we have done throughout the season and carry on getting points.


They have got pace and power and it will be end to end. Hopefully we can come away with the three points.


Away from the pitch, I am enjoying life as a father and he has been brilliant. We managed to have a little break last weekend and took him away for the first time. Everything is going well.


We also got a new rabbit this week.


We went into the shop to get some dog food and the rabbit had been abandoned by it's previous owners so I had to rescue it and bring it home.


It has settled in well and found a little spot with the underfloor heating and chilling out on the floor.


The dogs were not too keen but they will be alright!


AC