Insider ExWHUemployee has claimed that departing West Ham United captain Mark Noble asked not to start his last home game with the club.
Over the weekend, the Hammers played their final game of the season at the London Stadium. With the veteran midfielder set to retire in the summer, this meant it was his last home outing in front of his own fans.
While many would have expected him to start the game, Noble was left on the bench – only coming on in the 77th minute of the 2-2 draw with Manchester City.
Will Mark Noble end up as a future West Ham manager?
Yes
No
Ex revealed on The West Ham Way Patreon page that this wasn’t down to David Moyes, but rather the club captain himself, as he felt the game was too important and didn’t want to play just for the sake of sentiment.
He explained: “Despite being his special day, we believe at the request of Mark Noble, that he doesn’t start the game and due to the importance of the game there is no room for sentiment.”
TIF thoughts on Mark Noble and West Ham…
For a man who has been at the club so long and clearly has so much love for the Irons, it should be no surprise that one of his last acts for the team was so selfless.
Indeed, West Ham could still finish inside the top six if they win on the final game of the season and Manchester United drop points – so Noble understandably didn’t want his team to treat the game prior against Man City as if it was a friendly.
Having come through the club’s academy, if he gets off the bench on the final game of the season, Noble will end his career having played exactly 550 senior matches for West Ham. However, judging from his latest actions, the 35-year-old won’t pressure Moyes into playing him if it means jeopardising the team’s chances of a win.
In other news: Ex hints West Ham want 21-goal star as GBS & Moyes agree on exciting plan