West Ham United boss Slaven Bilic feels for Andy Carroll over his latest injury setback.

Bilic wrote in his column for the London Evening Standard:

"I didn't know Andy Carroll before I came here but of course I had heard the stories about his early career and some of the problems he had experienced.

"Since I've been at the club though, he has been good on and off the pitch. He's never late, a real professional.

"When a hamstring injury like the one he sustained at Bournemouth happens to another player you say 'unlucky.' When it happens to Andy Carroll though, it's another story. Some people remember the history and believe there has to be another reason for all the injuries.

"They see pictures of Andy in Dubai and try to make a connection. The reality is that, when the players have a few days off, as they do occasionally, many of them will fly to places like Dubai. They can afford it and, if they are fit any healthy, of course they will go, it's the modern way of living.

"For Andy though, it is a bit of a burden because he has that label and it's very hard to get rid of it."