West Ham striker Andy Carroll is set to play a behind-closed-doors friendly this week.

Instead of joining many of his fellow Premier League managers on a break due to the international games, Manuel Pellegrini will be an interested spectator on Thursday when Carroll plays behind closed doors against Brentford.

“Andy is close to coming back. He has started working with the squad a little but not 100 per cent," said Pellegrini. “He will work again this week and on Thursday we are going to play a friendly game and we hope that Carroll can play some minutes.

“I will be watching the game. There will be no holiday. Maybe the following week Jack Wilshere will be working with the first team squad."