Parker proves perfect

Avram Grant has said Scott Parker deserves to be considered for the highest accolades when the end of season awards come around.

A strong favourite to make it a hat-trick of Hammer of the Year titles, the manager believed Parker would also be a worthy national footballer of the year.

"I think, without any doubt, that he's the player of the year," Grant said. "I don't see any player than is better than him. 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. He is one of the best players I have ever worked with."

Although Grant has a positive selection dilemma at the moment, he reminded that Parker had been impressive even when he was without a third of his players.

"All the midfielders 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 ten or eleven players. Scott played and he was very good."

Citing Parker's example to others, Grant said there was still room for improvement from his brilliant No8. "I'm 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."