Noble may be in last chance saloon

Mark Noble will be desperate to play against Southampton in the FA Cup tomorrow as it may be one of – if not his last chance – to play in claret and blue.

It is, of course, the Hammers’ skipper final season as he has confirmed that he is set to retire at the end of the season.

He has found minutes understandably hard to come by this season with both Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek the undisputed first-choice starters in central midfield.

Noble did not even play in the third round of the FA Cup against Leeds United, although he was selected in the fourth round against Kidderminster.

With the club firmly in the Champions League race and also still in the Europa League, so one has to think that the game against Southampton may offer Nobes’ last chance to start a game this season.

The 34-year-old has made a total of 13 appearances this season but just six have been starts. He will be desperate to make it number seven tomorrow night.

 

About Hugh5outhon1895

Hugh Southon is a lifelong Iron and the founding editor of ClaretandHugh. He is a national newspaper journalist of many years experience and was Bobby Moore's 'ghost' writer during the great man's lifetime. He describes ClaretandHugh as "the Hammers daily newspaper!" Follow on Twitter @hughsouthon