West Ham United midfielder Alex Song has hailed the form of winger Stewart Downing this season.

The 30-year-old earned his side a point against Sunderland with a first-half equaliser on Saturday, and Song believes that the winger is continuing to show the impressive displays which saw him rewarded with a recall to the England squad last month.

He told the club's official website: "I think Stewart is a very good player. He's shown a lot of things and I'm very happy for him because he is a good guy as well.

"In football sometimes you might try to do something, and if it doesn't work you have to keep focused on what you're doing and improve yourself in training, and then you see it on the pitch.

"I'm very happy for him and when he plays like this, good things can happen for him. He's been back in the national team, and we have to help him do his job very well. We've seen what's happened for him and it's a pleasure to play with him because he is a very good player."

Downing has scored three goals in 15 league appearances for the Hammers this season.