Hammers’ Carroll bill

CROCK SHOCK ... Carroll grabs hold of his hamstring

WEST HAM could be almost £740,000 out of pocket unless striker Andy Carroll can make a speedy recovery from his hamstring injury.

Hammers joint-chairman David Gold last night admitted the £100,000-a-week loanee will be out for six weeks in the ‘worst-case scenario’.

And that will mean a massive bill for a club battling huge debts while the England ace is nursed back to full fitness.

Carroll lasted 68 minutes in his debut against Fulham on Saturday. If his injury goes the full distance that is £600,000 in wages.

And West Ham have paid Liverpool a season-loan fee of £1million — that breaks down to £138,500 over six weeks.

That works out as almost £11,000 for every minute he has played for the Hammers.

Joint-chairman David Sullivan pulled off one of the biggest deals for West Ham in years by persuading Carroll to sign on at Upton Park.