Carroll needs to play - Rodgers

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has suggested record signing Andy Carroll could still have a future at Anfield despite leaving on loan.

The £35million England striker has joined West Ham on a season-long deal after a summer of intense speculation over his future. Carroll, a deadline day signing by former boss Kenny Dalglish in January 2011, has failed to command a regular place during his time at Anfield and had also been linked with a return to former club Newcastle.

Although it is clear Carroll does not fit into Rodgers' immediate plans, the new manager insists the club are not writing off their investment, and said: "I believe it has been difficult for him in his period here. He hasn't played anywhere near as regularly as he wanted to and he wanted this to be a season where he was going to be playing regularly."

He went on: "Obviously I couldn't guarantee that and obviously getting later into the (transfer) window it still wasn't the case.

"He wants to play and unfortunately for us we are not really in the position to have a £35million player not playing regularly.

"The club made a monumental investment in Andy but it is no good him being on the bench. At this moment in time there are others ahead of him.

"He has got the chance to go and play and demonstrate his qualities and hopefully it allows us to move on and we will assess it over the course of the season.

"We are making a strategic decision to let Andy go out and get games and experience."