West Ham United were knocked out of the League Cup 2-1 at Leicester City on Tuesday, but the one positive for boss Slaven Bilic was Andy Carroll's first start since February.

The striker, who has been sidelined with knee ligament damage, got two minutes as a substitute against Newcastle United last Monday night but was handed his first start of the season at the King Power Stadium.

Speaking to the club's website afterwards, Carroll said: “Obviously we’re disappointed with the result, but to get 60 minutes under my belt was good.

“I didn’t get on against Manchester City and only had two minutes against Newcastle, so an hour is good and I feel fantastic.

“I felt good before I went out there. I’ve been training well and trying to get as fit as I can. I’ve been raring to start and was itching to get on last week as well, so it was pleasing to start at Leicester.”

And Carroll had words of praise for his teammates who have thrived during his lengthy absence.

“We’re a great team at the minute and the lads are playing well," he said. "They’ve got some great results apart from on Tuesday and as an attacking force they’ve been fantastic. It’s good to be a part of it.

“I’ve been looking forward since the start of the season to be back and now I am.

“That’s what I’ve wanted and what I’ve worked hard for. So now I’m trying to get in the starting eleven and stay there.”

Head coach Bilic added: “That was really good to see, Andy coming back from injury and starting the game after a long, long injury."

However, the Croatian was less pleased to see his side exit a competition he was clearly taking seriously by naming a strong side.

The Foxes went ahead went young striker Joe Dodoo netted after just six minutes but Mauro Zarate levelled midway through the first half.

Extra time was required to separate the two with Leicester's Andy King settling the tie by connecting with a Christian Fuchs cross.

Speaking afterwards, Bilic said: “It’s a big disappointment of course, because we approached this game and this competition with the aim to go through.

“We knew it was going to be tough because we were playing against a team which is unbeaten and on their own ground, but when you fight and concede a goal with three minutes to go in extra time of course you are disappointed.

“It was a very open game. To be fair they started well and were better than us in the first 20 minutes. We weren’t aggressive enough and were second best and they scored a goal very early.

“Then we started playing a bit better and from the 20th minute until the end of the 90 minutes, we were good. We created but unfortunately we didn’t score. Then, in extra time, they created the chances and we were a little bit tired.

Bilic was similarly unimpressed at seeing skipper Mark Noble booked for simulation when he had appeared to be fouled by Danny Simpson.

“I think definitely we should have had one for the one on Mark Noble because he had no reason whatsoever to go down,” he said. “For me it was a clear penalty and that was a crucial moment in the game.”