Inspirational Parker can lead Hammers to safety

Avram Grant’s revelation that Scott Parker could barely walk just hours before he led West Ham to victory over Liverpool does not come as a surprise.

The former Charlton and Chelsea man is an inspiration, both on and off the pitch, and such commitment to the cause is an example for all pros to follow.

West Ham had been dumped back onto the bottom of the Premier League thanks to Wolves’ thumping 4-0 win over Blackpool on Saturday but knew they could climb back level with the Midlands club with a win over a resurgent Liverpool at Upton Park.

Parker’s participation in that game was in serious doubt when he
damaged his shoulder in training on Saturday, meaning he could barely walk or move his arms.

After 24 hours of intensive treatment and a course of pain-killing injections Parker was patched up enough to play, and Hammers fans will be thankful he did. Just look at the impact he had on the live scores goalwire.

Parker was everywhere, so much so that you would be forgiven for thinking there were two of him running around the pitch such was the distances he covered.

He isn’t just a hard-worker though. His sublime finish for the opening goal was a piece of skill that, had it been executed by Wayne Rooney or Lionel Messi, would have been talked about for months.

His efforts inspire his team-mates to further heights as well – and not just on the pitch.

With the side 3-0 down at half time against West Brom last week Parker took it upon himself to rally the troops with an inspirational team-talk that played a huge part in their second half comeback that saw them claim a point. Fans will be keeping a close eye on the livescores goalwire in the coming weeks.

Individuals can prove pivotal in a relegation scrap and they can drag a average team by the bootstraps and haul them towards safety – think Christophe Dugarry at Birmingham in 2002, Jay-Jay Okocha at Bolton in 2003 or Carlos Tevez with West Ham in 2007.

Despite their poor season so far their performance on Sunday, as well as the irrepressible presence of Parker in midfield, suggests they have every chance of clawing themselves above the dreaded dotted line come May.