West Ham United goalkeeper Robert Green says defenders Matthew Upson and Herita Ilunga should be considered for this season's Hammer of the Year award.

Green won the trophy last season and told whufc.com: "There are obvious candidates but personally, being the goalkeeper, I feel that barring the last two games we've had a good season at the back.

"I'd be looking at someone like Matthew Upson who has played all but one of the [Barclays Premier League] games and been tremendous and Herita as well.

"It's a difficult one because Matthew is obviously experienced within the Premier League but Rita has come in and stepped straight into the team and played every Premier League game since his arrival. For someone to do that is fantastic because it is such a hard league to come into. If either of those two wins it then I think that would be right because they've both had tremendous seasons.

"The other player who is in the running is Scotty (Parker), but the fact that he's missed a quarter of the season goes against him. He has been tremendous this season too, breaking teams down, so either him or either of the two guys at the back would be worthy winners."