'We've got everything going for us'

Andy Carroll reckons the sky is the limit for West Ham United, as he enjoyed a glimpse of the future at the Club's dedicated New Stadium Reservation Centre in Stratford on Tuesday. 

Upon being greeted with spectacular new Computer Generated Images of the Hammers' 2016 home, the Gateshead-born centre-forward insisted there is a collective excitement about the prospect of playing in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

That feel-good factor is boosted by a thoroughly encouraging start to the 2014/15 Barclays Premier League campaign and so Carroll believes there is every reason to be cheerful.

"The Stadium's going to be one of the best about," he told West Ham TV. "The whole outside, the inside, just the feel of it when you get in there. We took a look around when we first got it and though it was empty, it was still great. Just imagine when it's full of fans.  

"It looks fantastic on the screen and in all that we're seeing. Now that we've seen it a couple of times on video, everyone's looking forward to being there and being a part of it."

Convinced that the Hammers are firmly on an upward trajectory, Carroll says that European football is within this group's grasp, not least with a magnificent new Stadium looming large on the horizon.   

"When I first signed, Sam [Allardyce] said this team here at West Ham could go on to be in the top six and get into Europe," he explained. "I can see the plan coming together now, we've got the players and I don't see why we couldn't do it. The quality's there. The Stadium's fantastic, the fans get behind us, we've got everything going for us."

Following Tuesday's launch of Club London - the Stadium's stunning new VIP areas - the Club's meticulous migration of supporters is set to commence. Each and every Season Ticket Holder can expect a bespoke appointment at the Reservation Centre, an opportunity that Carroll would dearly have loved as a Newcastle United fan growing up.

He continued: "That will be great for the fans. I used to have a Season Ticket at Newcastle and if I could have gone in and picked my own seat it would have made it a whole lot better. So I think for the fans to come here and pick their own seat to watch us will be great." 

Following successful surgery in the summer, Carroll himself is enjoying the view from the stands just now and was certainly impressed with Saturday's resounding 3-1 win over his former employers Liverpool.     

"You always want to be out there and being involved, but it was such a good game and exciting to get the three points as we did. I was desperate to be out there, but the way I was jumping about in the box when we scored and won, I think I did enough work for the day, on my ankle anyway!" 

Thankfully, the Big Man's rehabilitation is all going perfectly to plan and Carroll is already gearing up for the challenge of fighting for his spot in the side when the time comes. Much of that strength in depth is courtesy of the Hammers' summer transfer dealings, many, if not all of whom have made an exceptional start to life in Claret and Blue.  

"The recovery's going well," he added. "I started running about ten days ago, so that feels good, I haven't had a problem with it, so it's all good at the minute. I've got to take each day as it comes and, like I say, there hasn't been a setback so far. Hopefully it'll be just the same all the way through until I'm back fit.

"Every team needs that little bit of a battle to get back in the side and I think that's one of the good things we have here. We've got a good squad and everyone's fighting for a place. I think the new lads have been great, coming in the way they have and fitting straight in. It's been a great lift and a great boost for everyone at the Club."