Big Sam: Nolan no-go for Brazil

West Ham 3 Southampton 1

Allardyce publicly questioned his captain’s psychological state at the start of the year after he was sent off in the defeat at Fulham, just weeks after seeing red against Liverpool.

Nolan’s response has been impressive, netting five goals in as many Premier League games since his return from suspension — form that has coincided with a run of four successive league wins for the Hammers.

The 31-year-old’s latest key contribution came in the defeat of Southampton, which will have no doubt impressed watching England assistant Ray Lewington.

“He has had a lot of times that he has knocked on the door and I don’t think that’s going to make much difference for him now,” he said ahead of Thursday’s squad announcement for the friendly with Denmark.

“It would be nice if he did, but it is just about Kevin continuing where he is now. He is in his 30s now so he has got to continue his career as long as he possibly can by doing what he has always done and that is score goals.

“There are very, very few players better than him at scoring goals from midfield.”

Allardyce’s views on Nolan are shared by bookmakers, with one pricing him at 50/1 to make the World Cup — the same odds offered on Arsenal teenager Chuba Akpom and West Ham’s Elliott Lee, who has just one Premier League appearance to his name, heading to Brazil.

England could do worse than to look at the east Londoners to bolster their squad, though. Against Southampton they started seven English players, with Mark Noble’s fine midfield display complemented by goals from the previously-capped Matt Jarvis and Carlton Cole.

Saints managed 25 shots and, in truth, were unfortunate to leave the capital without anything to show for their endeavours.

Next up is a home clash with Liverpool next weekend — a match they expect to head into buoyed by several England call-ups. Lambert, Lallana and Rodriguez will hope to be involved again, while 18-year-old left-back Luke Shaw is expected to be included for the first time when the squad to face Denmark is announced. Jack Cork, James Ward-Prowse, Calum Chambers and Nathaniel Clyne have also been name-checked by Hodgson.

WEST HAM: Adrian, Demel, Collins, Tomkins, McCartney, Noble, Taylor, Jarvis (Diame 57), Nolan (Reid 73), Downing, Carlton Cole.

SOUTHAMPTON: Boruc, Chambers, Fonte, Yoshida, Shaw, Schneiderlin, Cork (Ramirez 63), Rodriguez, Steven Davis (Ward-Prowse 78), Lallana, Lambert (Gallagher 78).

Referee: Mark Clattenburg.