Friday 24 October 2014 13:35, UK
Sam Allardyce has praised the influence of on-loan midfielder Alex Song in the West Ham changing room.
Song joined the Hammers from Barcelona in August and Allardyce feels the 26-year-old has had the same impact for West Ham that Yaya Toure has had for Saturday's opponents Manchester City.
West Ham's, who are fourth in the table, will be given a tough test when they host defending champions City on Saturday and when asked about his opponents' world-class stars, the Hammers boss said: "We've got that type of signing in Alex Song.
"That's a Yaya Toure-type signing for us. He's a top quality player of the highest calibre and he'll provide the sort of service our front line need.
"He links everything together very well so we've got a top quality international player that's played for Arsenal, for Barcelona and in the Champions League.
"He's obviously being slightly overshadowed by Enner Valencia and Sakho at the moment but he'll have a big impact for us."
He's a top quality player of the highest calibre and he'll provide the sort of service our front line need.
Allardyce added: "He's a massive influence on the training ground and in the changing room - with his dress sense particularly.
"Everyone has a lot respect for what he's done before. He hasn't hit top form yet but he's certainly a major influence for us."
West Ham played City four times last season, losing on each occasion and conceding 14 goals while scoring just once.
The worst of those defeats came in the Capital One Cup first leg in January when the Hammers were thrashed 6-0 but Allardyce is confident his side will do better this time around.
"We've got a different team, a different set of players, some of them last season will remember the fact we didn't get anything against City," the West Ham boss said.
"Everyone still talks about the semi-final of the Capital One Cup but there was little we could do with the injuries we had.
"If we're going to challenge against them, it's at this moment in time - City have just come back from playing in the Champions League and we're in good, confident form."
