Andy Carroll: West Ham striker has knee surgery

Former Liverpool striker Andy Carroll has scored five goals this season

West Ham United striker Andy Carroll has had surgery on a knee injury that is expected to keep him out for the rest of the season.

Carroll suffered medial ligament damage in Wednesday's 0-0 draw at Southampton.

The 26-year-old was forced to stay on the pitch because West Ham were down to 10 men and had made all three of their substitutions.

On Tuesday, Carroll tweeted: "Today's surgery went great and glad to be put back together into one piece!"

He added: "Now I just need some entertainment to keep me occupied! #bored."

Andy Carroll tweeted after his surgery on Tuesday

Carroll, out for most of last season with an Achilles problem, missed the first three months of this campaign after injuring ankle ligaments in New Zealand in pre-season.

Since returning in November he had scored five goals in 14 games.

The former Newcastle and Liverpool forward has won nine England caps, and scored twice, but has not played for the national team since a World Cup qualifier against San Marino in October 2012.

Carroll has only started in 43.4% of the club's games since joining in 2012 - initially on loan, before his £15m move a year later.

West Ham are currently eighth in the Premier League table with 38 points from 25 games and were knocked out of the FA Cup courtesy of a 4-0 fifth-round defeat to West Brom on Saturday.