West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce believes that striker Andy Carroll deserves to be recalled by England boss Roy Hodgson.

The 24-year-old has spent a lengthy time on the sidelines with a knee injury but the frontman, who is on loan at Upton Park from Liverpool, marked his return with a goal in the Hammers' 1-0 win over Swansea City on Saturday.

"All this talk about someone as tall as him suggests that England would play a different way, well you play to win, don't you?" the London Evening Standard quotes Allardyce as saying.

"We don't want him getting injured again but if he stays fit and keeps putting in top-class performances in the Premier League you get picked again, don't you? You can't afford to be ignored."

England are currently preparing to take on Brazil in a friendly at Wembley this week.