Former England international Danny Mills has claimed that West Ham United forward Andy Carroll should be taken to the 2018 World Cup.

Carroll won the last of his nine England caps under Roy Hodgson in 2012, and has not been in plans of Gareth Southgate since the 47-year-old took control of the Three Lions.

Carroll, 28, has struggled with a number of injuries this season, but he scored twice in West Ham's 2-1 win over West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League on Tuesday night.

Pundit Mills has said that the Hammers striker would be the perfect back-up option for England due to his aerial ability.

Mills told Sky Sports:

"I certainly think he would be a Plan B or a Plan C, whichever way you want to look at it. I mean aerially he is fantastic.

"He is still, without a doubt, one of the best headers of the ball in the Premier League. If he's fit he's got to be worth taking to the World Cup."

Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy and Marcus Rashford are expected to fill three of the forward positions in the England squad for the 2018 World Cup.

Carroll, who is valued at £9m by transfermarkt.co.uk, has scored twice for England during his international career, but has not been involved in a major tournament since Euro 2012.

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