Andy Carroll has vowed to fight for his place in the West Ham United team when he returns from injury.

The striker has watched summer signings Diafra Sakho, Enner Valencia and Mauro Zarate impress for the Hammers during his layoff with an ankle problem.

Speculation has suggested that the Londoners may be willing to cut their losses on their injury-plagued £15m signing, but Carroll is desperate to get back to action and repay the faith that West Ham have shown in him.

"I don't mind a battle, and every team needs competition for places," he told the London Evening Standard. "That is one of the things we have here. Everyone is fighting for their place.

"It has been mixed emotions for me watching the team this season. I am desperate to be out there on the pitch but I remember the Liverpool game when I was jumping up and down watching from the box. I think I did enough work for that day on my ankle!

"I know I've had problems with injuries and I'm not hiding away from that. Hopefully this is the last one and I can get it out of the way. The club have put a lot of faith in me, paying so much money, but I don't feel like I've let them down. It's an injury that I couldn't help."

Sakho, Valencia and Zarate have scored six goals between them to help West Ham to seventh in the Premier League.