Parker plays down injury scare
Scott Parker played down his latest heroics for West Ham this season, despite being unable to walk 24 hours before inspiring them to arguably their best performance of the campaign.
Parker turned in another man-of-the-match display in yesterday’s 3-1 win over Liverpool, helping lift the Hammers back off the foot of the Barclays Premier League.
The 30-year-old’s contribution was all the more remarkable as it came just three hours after manager Avram Grant had resigned himself to being without his talismanic midfielder, who fell on his shoulder during training on Saturday.
But Parker made light of an injury that initially left him unable to move and required intensive treatment and a pain-killing injection in order for him to be able to play.
“It’s not too bad,” he said.
“Got a bit of treatment on it and I got through the game, so it was fine.”
Grant lavished praise on Parker for his utter commitment to the Hammers’ relegation fight.
But the player added: “It was just a little bit of a knock and that was it, really.
“Anybody else would’ve done exactly the same.”
The former Chelsea midfielder was also modest about his latest man-of-the-match gong, saying: “It’s obviously going well for me personally.”
Indeed, the only prize that interests Parker is Premier League survival and yesterday’s win was vital to that aim, with just 10 games remaining to complete a great escape.
He set them on their way to a richly-deserved victory with a sublime opening goal before Demba Ba – fast becoming one of the signings of the January transfer window – added a second.
Glen Johnson pulled a goal back to set up a nervy finish but Carlton Cole came off the bench to wrap up the three points.
“We stayed strong and I think it’s a massive relief we got three points,” said Parker, who immediately turned his attention to next week’s game at Stoke.
“As quickly as we’re celebrating the three points, we’re looking at next week and thinking, ’If only we can win next week’.”
“If we can put back-to-back wins together, it’ll be massive for us.”
Liverpool’s defeat saw manager Kenny Dalglish suffer his first major setback since his appointment sparked a mini-revival.
That raised hopes of a late run on the Champions League spots, something which now looks nigh-on impossible.
An eight-match unbeaten run had sparked reports Dalglish had been offered a new two-year contract.
“Obviously not,” said the Scot, whose deal is until the end of the season.
“I thought the wife was putting me under contract. We’ve said often enough that, if there’s any news to be told, we’ll tell you.”
