West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce has heaped praise on his captain Kevin Nolan.

The midfielder returned from a three-match suspension to score the opening goal as the Hammers recorded a 2-0 win at Cardiff City earlier today.

"Kevin Nolan is a midfielder goalscorer, he's not a midfielder playmaker," Allardyce said.

"He puts himself in very dangerous positions in the box and finds the quality and the finish in the box that's basically only afforded to the top centre-forwards.

"I do think he made a difference today. The players have done terrifically well while he's been missing through suspension, but he's a big player for us and he showed that today."

Nolan joined West Ham in the summer from Newcastle United.