Avram Grant insists West Ham midfielder Scott Parker has been player of the year in the Premier League.
Hammers boss praises his captain
Avram Grant insists West Ham midfielder Scott Parker has been player of the year in the Premier League.
The 30-year-old has been an ever-present in the centre of the park for the Hammers, earning rave reviews and a call-up to the England squad for the 2-0 win against Wales.
Parker has been key in an impressive recent upturn in form and will undoubtedly be called upon again as West Ham welcome league leaders Manchester United to Upton Park on Saturday.
Despite West Ham still struggling on the fringes of the relegation zone, Grant believes that Parker deserves more recognition for his role over the course of the season.
"I think, without any doubt, that he's the player of the year. I don't see any player better than him," he said.
"And if you also want to nominate a player who's a good example, it's good for everybody.
"He's a player who always gives everything, always trains well, is always positive and always gives everything for the team.
"Remember we played sometimes in the first half of the season without 10 players. All the midfielder around him and the forwards kept needing to change and he was the only one that stayed and kept us (in the fight).
"If we are in a position that we can stay in the league it's because we took points in the first half of the season sometimes without 10 or 11 players. And he played and he was very good."
Passion
With the entire West Ham squad committed to beating the drop, Parker will need to continue leading by example for the remainder of the season.
Grant believes that the former Charlton and Chelsea man is one of the best players he has had the pleasure of coaching, even hinting there could be more to come from the combative midfielder.
"His attitude is very good," he added. "I like it, because I think all the improvement in football and the publicity and everything, you start when you are young because you love it and you have passion for it.
"And I have the same passion even more now. But sometimes you see players who, because they have money now and they forget it, but Scotty always plays like it's his first game.
"I am very pleased that this season is his best season. I always like when my players play their best when I'm around.
"I think he can be even a little bit better, but he's taking the maximum from himself all the time."
