The West Ham captain was dropped for last week’s game against Leicester.
Mark Noble’s loyalty and commitment to West Ham United is unquestionable, but the club captain now finds himself in a rather unfamiliar situation under new manager David Moyes.
It has been evident that Noble’s performance levels have dropped considerably this season, with the 30-year-old lacking his usual composure in possession and also not providing West Ham’s defence with the requisite protection.
After an especially disappointing display in Moyes’ first game in charge – the 2-0 defeat away to Watford – Noble found himself dropped to the bench for West Ham’s trip to face Leicester City last week and remained an unused substitute during the 1-1 draw.
With West Ham facing a hectic schedule of games, Noble could soon get back in the starting line-up, perhaps even for tomorrow night’s game away to Everton.
However, Noble will be wary that his performances will be under much scrutiny and that he isn’t guaranteed a regular starting place under Moyes.
It would be intriguing to see whether Noble, who has been a fixture in the West Ham side for so long, would be able to accept not always being in the starting line-up.
Moyes has shown that he is brave enough to drop Noble, with Winston Reid taking the captain’s armband for the Leicester game, and that should serve as a warning to each member of the West Ham side that they could be left out at any moment.
For Noble now the focus is on striving arduously to convince Moyes that he can still make a major impact in the Premier League.
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