James Collins insists his West Ham United teammate Andy Carroll is a difference maker.

Carroll returned for the first time since April in the Hammers 2-0 win over Huddersfield on Monday night.

And Collins believes the striker's commanding presence provided another weapon for Slaven Bilic's side.

"Obviously big Andy makes a difference and certainly in the first half we played to his strengths and our strengths," he said. "We got up to him and got on the second balls, and obviously he makes a difference.

"I know I would not like playing against him every week. He's good at what he does and I thought he was fantastic."