Joey O'Brien has jumped to the defence of West Ham United boss Sam Allardyce.

Allardyce's job is hanging by a thread this week.

But Hammers midfielder O'Brien said: "As for Sam, yes, he gave me a chance to resurrect my career and I will always be thankful for him but apart from that, he's just a great manager.

"He has proved that in the years he has been in the Premier League. The year I signed for Bolton as a youngster, he did an unbelievable job to keep them up.

"He managed it, though, and then after a couple of years brought in the big hitters in the game. Those players weren't signing because it was Bolton Wanderers, they were signing because of him.

"If this club were looking for a manager to keep them up, they would go straight to Sam. That's down to his record of keeping clubs in the Premier League and digging out results.

"He's a top, top manager who, not long ago, was in with a shout of getting the England job.

"I understand the criticism because that comes when you are where we are in the Premier League but if we had a few more points on the board he wouldn't be getting the grief he is now.

"It's up to the players to help him. We haven't been up to scratch this season, we've let points go, games go - games we should have won."