In the build up to the FA Cup quarter-final replay between West Ham and Manchester United tonight, one player is dominating the headlines after his heroics at the weekend and it has caused Slaven Bilic to make a rather unlikely comparison.
Andy Carroll's name was on the lips of every West Ham inside the Boleyn Ground during the Hammers' 3-3 draw with Arsenal on Saturday lunch time, following his quickfire hat-trick and his Croatian manager has been enthusiastically singing his praises ever since.
"I know that he is motivated. Especially after Saturday - he can't wait to go back out there.
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"OK, he scored a hat-trick and all that, but it was not just that he was in or around the box waiting for crosses."
"Take his third goal: He took a ball as a left winger, kept the ball - kept it that we could go out a little bit, because we defended - then switched sides with a diagonal ball, like Paul Scholes used to. Then he was in the box.
"So it was not only the goals."
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We're not sure if Carroll is quite ready for the deep lying playmaker role just yet, but having a manager as passionate about his abilities can only be a good thing for Carroll, West Ham and also England.
Could the in form Geordie find his way onto the plane for Euro 2016 or has Roy Hodgson already got enough firepower at his disposal? Have your say in the comments section, below.
(H/T The Mirror)
Topics: Paul Scholes, Football, Manchester United, Slaven Bilic, Andy Carroll, West Ham United