Declan Rice has lauded Mark Noble as the Hammers skipper nears retirement.
The Irons are well aware that the midfielder is set to call time on his career at the end of the season, drawing the curtain down on his storied stay with the Hammers.
He has remained a useful member of the squad for David Moyes, making 12 appearances in all competitions and scoring twice, once in the Premier League and once in the Europa League.
And Declan insists that he remains a key member of the team on the training ground, consistently trying to push his team-mates to higher heights, the England star included.
Speaking to Vibe with Five, as transcribed by Football.London, he said: “Even now to this day he is still on me in training if I do things that are not up to the standard that he thinks I can do it and that is what I want, I want to be pushed and there is probably nobody better who knows this club inside out and has played the games that he has to tell me that.”
Declan also claims that Noble is actually almost his second dad, such has been his influence over his career in east London to date.
Rice, who has emerged as perhaps the Hammers’ single most important player this season, added: “He is the best bro. “He is like m
y second dad, it is hard to explain but he is the best and still a top player, top three trainers every day, he never gives the ball away and one of the best passers I have ever seen.”
