Allardyce hails QPR stopper Green

The 35-year-old Green has been in impressive form this season for relegation-threatened Rangers and has already worked his way back onto the international scene - albeit due to injuries to other goalkeepers.

On Saturday he will be looking to keep a clean sheet against former club West Ham as the R's go in search on another important three points as they aim to avoid dropping out of the Premier League.

Green spent six years at Upton Park following a switch from Norwich and established himself firmly as the Hammers' first-choice goalkeeper before deciding on a move across London to Loftus Road.

His time at QPR did not start too fondly as he lost out to Julio Cesar for the number-one spot but, either side of a season in the Championship, he has once again etched his name onto the teamsheet - with Allardyce remaining a fan of the player he failed to keep a hold of in 2012.

"He could rival Joe Hart," the West Ham boss said when asked about Green's England credentials.

"Robert has had an unfortunate England career by the fact that, when called upon, he made a mistake (in conceding a goal against the United States in the 2010 World Cup) that has probably haunted him for a while. If he has has overcome that then the experience he has gained since then should make him a better goalkeeper now."

Green departed West Ham after helping them achieve promotion back into the top-flight - with Allardyce admitting it was a lack of financial clout that saw the highly-rated stopper leave.

"Financially we couldn't get there - that was the key element," he said.

"It wasn't that Robert didn't want to stay - he did. But we couldn't match, at that time, coming back into the Premier League, his financial demands and obviously QPR did.

"And after a difficult time at QPR, he has shone through again because of his dedication. Robert is a dedicated goalkeeper and works tirelessly on his game and has got a huge amount of experience now which hopefully - not on Saturday - help QPR stay up."

Green and his QPR team-mates will be buoyed by West Ham's poor run of form which has seen them win just one of the last 12 games.

But, despite holding Green in high regard, Allardyce knows Chris Ramsey's side have a porous defence - something he will target at Loftus Road.

"I think they have been like us recently, not enough clean sheets," he said.

"Robert has had too many saves to make, that is what we look at. I remember going to Blackburn and Paul Robinson - who was the England number one - said that he was having to deal with 28 attempts at goal every week.

"For me the goalkeeper comes next to the goalscorer - that is the level of esteem I hold the goalkeeper in. Goalkeepers continue to help you win games by making saves at critical times when you are in the lead. For me, they are the next most critical position after goalscorer."

And, although they sit 19th in the table, QPR boast a handy striker in the form of 17-goal man Charlie Austin - another player who Allardyce knows could hurt his side this weekend.

"It's very impressive," Allardyce said of Austin's first season in the Premier League.

"I think it took him a while before he started scoring then found his feet and became almost the reason why QPR still have a chance to stay in the Premier League.

"When you look at your goalscorers and you look what he's done for QPR to keep them there, and what Harry Kane has done for Tottenham. The goalscorers are such a rare breed and when you've got one they can be the saviour of your season, no doubt about that."