Vaz Te: Carroll can turn England around

West Ham striker Ricardo Vaz Te believes Andy Carroll can turn England into world champions, if Roy Hodgson uses the 23-year-old properly.

The Liverpool loan signing made his comeback from a month-long hamstring injury against QPR on Monday night, and caused the home side problems in defence by winning numerous aerial battles.

Vaz Te feels it is up to Hodgson to decide whether Carroll is fit for a call-up for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Poland, despite West Ham boss Sam Allardyce insisting the striker is ‘woefully, woefully’ short of fitness.

“(Carroll’s) great to have back. He’s such a handful. He is an England striker,” he told reporters.

“I’m not sure if he’s back in time (for San Marino and Poland) – that’s for Roy to prove. He proved for us that when he is fit he is ready. We have one more game, hopefully, that will show (it too).

“Give him a call – a player will know if he is ready.”

The Portuguese striker complimented his team-mate on his ability both in the air and with his feet, suggesting Carroll can take England to the next level.

“With Andy’s strength, England can do anything. Every time you play a ball to him, you know he is going to control it. He lets the team breathe, he lets you push on. He buys you time,” Vaz Te said.

“Normally, you get big players who are strong but not so good with their feet. Andy is an all-rounder. He is not fast – but not slow either. He showed that at QPR.

“He is a terrific player.”