West Ham United boss Slaven Bilic has ruled out selling striker Andy Carroll in the January transfer window.
The former Newcastle United and Liverpool centre-forward has been linked with a move back to St. James' Park but Bilic insists that the Hammers need the 25-year-old at Upton Park.
The Croatian said: "We need players. We need him fit and we need him back.
"I don't judge my centre-forwards on whether they score goals or not. In the game against Stoke he ran and he did everything,
"He was creating space, he was holding the ball up. He looked to me that he was back fitness-wise and then he got injured. But hopefully the injury is not too bad.
"When he is fit, he's a big asset for us, he's a big weapon, and it is hard to play against him.
"He has his presence, his hunger, his ability and, of course, he's really important for us.
"He fits into my attacking plans. I said this from the start and that has not changed."