Crystal Palace boss Pardew full of praise for West Ham striker Carroll

Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew is wary facing West Ham United striker Andy Carroll.

Carroll is back in Slaven Bilic's plans after recovering from a long-term knee injury and having managed the 26-year-old striker at Newcastle, Palace manager Pardew knows he poses a big threat to his side's standing in the top four.

"He's unplayable at times," Pardew said. "There aren't many strikers who are completely unplayable, and he's one of them. In recent years in the Premier League, as an attacker of the ball in the air, there has been no one better than him.

"There aren't many strikers with the same aggression as him on crosses. He will slam into a centre half to try to score — not in an illegal way, but he gets bumps and bruises and it's his bravery that gets him into trouble at times. I hope he gets a free run from injury because he's a fine player."