Captain Carroll looks for full pre-season

Andy Carroll claims he is delighted to be experiencing the toughest of training regimes as he warms up for the new season.

AC captained the Hammers as they went down to a 3-2 defeat against Winterthur and said: “Obviously we came out here to win but, at the end of the day, it’s 45 minutes under our belts and next time hopefully I’ll get some more minutes.

The result really doesn’t matter, so it was good for the lads to get a run out.

“It’s been very hard, it’s been tough. The new manager has come in and everyone is out there to impress. We’ve had a couple of triple sessions so it’s been really hard, but getting back to the football and playing 45 minutes was great. I got a goal and we got the first game out of the way.

“It would be good to get a full pre-season in. I’m positive at the minute and hopefully it stays like that and I can work hard and keep fit and hopefully I can be fit for the beginning of the season.”

Today he will link up with his former England Under 21 colleague Jack Wilshere will join the group for the first time.

Carroll added: “It’s fantastic, the facilities that we’re in. The hotel is brilliant and the pitches we’re training on are great as well, so everyone is enjoying it and everyone is in a good mood.

Carroll has also enjoyed working with new manager Manuel Pellegrini and his coaching staff, saying: “He seems good. He knows what he wants.

Obviously, his CV says it all and we’ve just got to listen to him. He’s brought in his staff and they’ve been fantastic as well. “We’ve just got to work hard, listen to him and hopefully we can push on this season.”