Promising young England under-21 midfielder has burst into the West Ham team to the admiration of, well, just about everybody
‘Nobes’, a midfielder from Canning Town, is a yet another product of West Ham's rather prolific Academy. And not being one to hang about, he made his first-team debut in August 2004, aged just 17, during a 2-0 League Cup win over Southend at Upton Park.
Since his introduction to the first team, his skills, creativity and most of all his passion – he’s a self-confessed lifelong Hammer – have made him a big favourite of the West Ham fans. He's also caught the attention of top-line managers such as Arsene Wenger, hardly renowned for being a fan of English players.
Manager Alan Curbishley is also a big admirer, labelling Noble “the best prospect at the club” – hardly surprising, given his sterling performances for England under-21s. Having won the club’s Young Player of the Year Award in 2005 and 2007, it’s now time to push on and turn potential into reality.