Grant hails ‘good guy’ Parker

WEST HAM boss Avram Grant believes no English midfielder has played as well as Scott Parker this season and has called upon Fabio Capello to bring the Hammers captain back into the international fold.

Parker, who has won three caps, was part of the provisional 30-man England World Cup squad but failed to make the final cut and has not been involved since.

The 30-year-old put in a typically influential performance at Wolves on Saturday as West Ham came back from a goal down to draw 1-1, and Grant is convinced Parker should be playing for his country again.

“I think if you look at all the English midfielders, with respect to others, there is no doubt that Scott, from the beginning of the season, has been the best midfielder,” Grant said.

“I need to talk to Capello! I am not the England manager, but I am sure that Scott deserves to be there.

“He played well offensively and defensively, was good with the ball.

“He is very clever and professional, a good guy – very positive.

“I think it would be good for the England team if he was there, and especially in this form.”

Having fallen behind to Matt Jarvis’s opener in the 10th minute and struggled to make an impression on the game in the first-half, Grant’s side drew level shortly after the break thanks to Mark Noble’s penalty.

The east London outfit improved from that point and were unlucky not to seal a rare away victory which would have lifted them off the foot of the Premier League, with Frederic Piquionne’s stoppage-time strike disallowed for handball.

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy, however, thought the decision to award the penalty for Kevin Foley’s challenge on Victor Obinna was harsh and one that changed the entire course of the match.

“When they get a decision like that and things have been going against us, then it changes the whole dynamics of the game,” said McCarthy.

“We have battered them for 45 minutes and seven minutes into the (second-half) the game is not going anywhere, it is suiting us fine.

“But they score, and they get the confidence and the impetus, which knocks it out of us.

“But then we didn’t get beaten, and I think the players have shown a resilience when they lost the goal not to concede another.”