West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has hailed Kevin Nolan ahead of the east Londoners hosting Manchester City on Saturday.

The Hammers midfielder has scored more goals at home than anyone else this season in the Premier League.

When Allardyce was informed of this statistic, he replied: “Who has? Has he really? Well I hope he scores on Saturday then.

“I think Kevin is important, as I’ve said many times.

“I’m not going to talk about him anymore because he’ll get too big-headed already so, you know, let’s hope he gives a performance that we know he can give and if that performance is Kevin Nolan’s best then I think he’ll sneak in the box somewhere and hopefully score when he gets a chance.”

Nolan is a favourite of Allardyce, who brought him through the ranks at Bolton before signing him for Newcastle and West Ham.

There have been claims that the midfielder should have moved to a top four club but his manager was quieter on the issue.

“He went to the teams he chose to go and the clubs that wanted to employ his services,” Allardyce added. “That’s all you can do.

“All you can do is play your best and put yourself out there. If whoever fancies you decides that they want you they’ll come and buy you.

“I brought him through the ranks at Bolton, gave him his debut and bought him quickly from Newcastle when he decided he didn’t want to stay so he was unfortunately there when I was at Newcastle in my short tender.”