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Andy Carroll in line to return for West Ham against Newcastle

Image: Andy Carroll has been pleasing his manager in training

West Ham boss Slaven Bilic has revealed striker Andy Carroll is in line to return to action against former club Newcastle on Monday evening.

The England forward has been impressing in training after recovering from the knee injury which confined him to the sidelines for the past eight months.

Bilic, who revealed he would 'probably select him' for the Sky Live match at Upton Park, said: "Andy has had a six-week pre-season and looks very good in training."

West Ham were busy towards the end of the transfer market and Bilic admits he is looking forward to seeing new recruits Victor Moses, Michail Antonio and Nikica Jelavic in action.

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"I am very pleased with the business we did," he said. "It's all on paper and we have to put it into practice, but I think we've done well.

"In the first week they've been training with us it's all very positive and they're the players we wanted. They have joined a team that is already good and they've come here to give us extra quality.

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"Moses and Antonio play more or less the same position, but they are different. For both of them the expectations are high.

"Antonio's potential is enormous. He has done it in the Championship (with Nottingham Forest) and that means he has every chance of doing it in the Premier League.

"You know Jelavic, he is not a new name here. He has played for Rangers, Everton and Hull. He is well proven here, he knows the league.

"I know him really well and exactly what I am going to get. He is a quality player, who can score, hold the ball, and do everything you need from a centre-forward. I am really pleased he is with us."

Spurs striker Emmanuel Adebayor
Image: Bilic says Emmanuel Adebayor's contract situation made a deal difficult

Bilic also confirmed that he held talks with Tottenham forward Emmanuel Adebayor but says there was never any deal on the table.

"It was not like negotiations because of his situation and our situation," he said. "I wanted a chat and he did too, so we spoke for one hour, of course about football.

"But, in the end it did not happen, because of his contract situation with Spurs."

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