Andy Carroll has admitted that he regretted joining West Brom just two days after making his move to the Hawthorns.
Former Liverpool striker Carroll joined the Baggies on a short-term deal in January as a replacement for the injured Daryl Dike. The 33-year-old striker was signed by Valerien Ismael, who was then sacked just four days and one game later.
Carroll managed three goals in 15 appearances for West Brom, who finished 10th in the Championship, before leaving. He has since returned to Reading for a second spell and he revealed that it wasn’t a happy spell for him in Birmingham.
"To be honest, the second day I was there [at West Brom] I regretted being there," he told Berkshire Live. Carroll played a reduced role under Steve Bruce and was released at the end of the season.
Carroll re-joined Reading in September and has two goals in 13 appearances so far this season. However, he is set to be out of contract in January, having only signed a four-month deal upon his return to the club.
"Hopefully you guys have asked the gaffer and he has given you the answer," he told reporters. "But I am willing to sign if there is a deal there."
Carroll and defender Amadou Mbengue are in the same boat, but Reading manager Paul Ince has confirmed he wants to keep both until the end of the season.
"Yeah they are up in January, but we will see," Ince said. "Both parties want to stay, they like it here and enjoy it here. We will cross that bridge, speak to them both, see what is happening and go from there. It will be nice to keep them both, I don't see any reason why we can't, but let's just wait and see."
Reading are currently 11th in the Championship table, with 32 points from 23 games following their 3-2 defeat by Birmingham City on Friday night. Carroll, who is wearing the No2 shirt at Reading, was used as a substitute against Birmingham.
He is part of an experienced group of players which includes Shane Long, Jeff Hendrick, Scott Dann, Junior Hoilett and Tom Ince. Reading is the latest stage of a career which has taken him to six clubs since making his breakthrough at Newcastle in 2006.
Carroll was famously signed by Liverpool for £35million in January 2011, with the move to Anfield not working out. He managed just 11 goals in 58 appearances for the Reds, moving on to West Ham.
The Hammers got 34 goals and 17 assists in 142 appearances out of Carroll, but injuries have dogged him in recent years. A return to Newcastle in 2019 didn’t work out and he’s since dropped down to the Championship with Reading and West Brom.
