Carroll is touch and go for Saturday

Head of Medical and Sports Science Stijn Vandenbroucke hints Andy Carroll is a doubt for Saturday and looks like he is getting his excuses in early.

Stijn tells WHUFC.com “Andy Carroll came off with an injury at St Mary’s. He had a similar problem in the game at Middlesbrough, but we were able to prepare him for the Manchester City and the Southampton games, where he did brilliantly with limited training.”

“We will now work with Andy to prepare him for Saturday. It is always a fine balance not to put him at risk of serious injury as he has not trained a lot in 2017.”

He confirms “Havard Nordtveit and Sam Byram have been training all week. Sam missed the Southampton game as a precaution, having only recently returned from a long-term hamstring surgery and rehabilitation period. Alvaro Arbeloa is also in full training.”

“Arthur Masuaku has turned the last corner in his own rehab and has been training with the PL2 squad this week under the direction of our rehabilitation fitness coach. He will return to first-team training on Friday.”

“Diafra Sakho is continuing his rehab following his back surgery in December and we are looking at him being brought back at the end of March or start of April.”

“Angelo Ogbonna underwent successful surgery on his knee in Paris and has now returned to London to continue his rehab, which is a 12 to 16-week programme.”