David Moyes has been keen to ensure that Mark Noble is not left out in the cold and has been talking the veteran Hammer up big time.

It’s become clear that -with little fanfare – the midfielder and former captain is now a fringe squad player, and to his total credit there has been no fuss or bother from him as he has slipped down the pecking order.

But the manager has regularly made sure that he talks up a player who deserved nothing but total support as he enters the most difficult period of any sportsman’s career.

A few weeks ago as Mark recovered from a minor injury Moyes declared he would be getting plenty of games. It sounded an exaggeration then and still does but it’s what we should expect from a highly experienced boss.

Now he is keen to ensure that Mark is fully aware that his future remains entirely West Ham despite the on pitch appearances becoming fewer.

Speaking to Sky Sports he said: “There will be a future here for Mark Noble this year, next year, the year after that and probably years and years after that. He is such a big part of the club.”

And his successor as captain Declan Rice can consider himself fortunate to have such experience to call upon as he cuts his teeth on the job in front of him.

Moyes added: “Declan is one the country’s top players and he’s getting better. I told him that he can learn from  Mark Noble on and off the pitch.”