Does this West Ham United veteran deserve an England Call-up?

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The current longest serving player with the record number of Premier League appearances. The captain and an essential component in a team that has defied expectations and sit a place and a point below the Champions league places; many would look at Mark Noble’s season and question why he wasn’t in the squad for the international friendlies and argue his case on why he should be involved for the Euros.

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Having come through an academy that boasts England internationals such as Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Jermain Defoe, Joe Cole, Paul Ince, Michael Carrick, and Glen Johnson as graduates. Mark James Noble became the Hammers youngest ever reserve player, aged 15. He made his West Ham debut at the tender age of 17 in the league cup in the 04/05 season. That season he helped West Ham win promotion back into the top flight with 13 appearances in the Championship, winning the Young Hammer of the Year award and came runner up in the Hammer of the Year. However, he failed to establish himself and earn regular game time for almost 2 years after. Brief loan spells at Hull City and Ipswich helped in giving some playing time.

It wasn’t until the 2007/08 season under Alan Curbishley’s tenure as manager did Noble make himself an established member of the team and become a regular starter. The subsequent seasons, up until relegation back to the Championship (2011/12), Noble was ever present in the Hammers line-up with only injuries and suspensions restricting game time. West Ham’s season back in the second tier of English only lasted a year, promotion via the play-off final brought more accolades for Noble. He received the club’s prestigious Hammer of the Year award and was always named in the Championship Team of the Year.

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The trend of being one of the first names on the team-sheet has continued since being back in the top flight. The 2013/14 season represents his most successful in terms of appearances, he played all 38 games. He picked up his second Hammers of the Year and club’s Players’ Player of the Year award. This season after the departure of Kevin Nolan, newly appointed Slaven Bilic handed the armband to the man from East London – the perfect marriage in many fans’ eyes.

Slaven Bilic must be delighted with his choice. The skipper has been at the heart of everything good this season. The whole team has played fantastically well to be in the position they find themselves. Adrian has been Mr. Reliable behind the sticks, Winston Reid has been solid at the back, Dimitri Payet has been the gem and star of the team in attack and Noble (barring one game) has been ever present in the middle of the park, helping the team tick smoothly.

He’s featured in 29 league games one more than his overall in the 2014/15. He’s created 39 chances that have yielded 4 assists – one better than last season. 86% of his 1254 passes have been accurate, he has a 37% shot accuracy which has seen him go one step better and improve on last season’s 2 goals. He’s in 5^th position in the Hammers player ratings and rates a solid 4/5 stars on Squawka. (Statistics from Squawka, correct at time of writing 29/03/16. http://www.squawka.com/players/mark-noble/stats#performance-score#west-ham-united-(current)#english-barclays-premier-league#8#season-2015/2016#165#all-matches#1-30#by-match).

Mark Noble’s performances this season have been nothing short of top class also, highlights include the league double over Liverpool – a well-taken strike for the second goal – a 3-0 win, the club’s first league win at Anfield since 1963. Along with Payet, they were the driving force behind the team’s comeback from 2-0 down away to Norwich. Noble grabbing a stunning equaliser, an outside of the foot strike into the top corner. Along with the rest of his teammates he’s been brilliant in the games against the big teams; wins against Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City and Tottenham.

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Similarly to Eric Dier and Danny Drinkwater (who, by the way, won the Man of the Match award on his England debut last night), they have been cries for Mark Noble to have been included in the squad for the recent friendlies. All three players play in the midfield anchor role but only Dier and Drinkwater got the call-ups. Hodgson gave hope to the fringe and uncapped players by saying he’d consider players on form and consistent performances.

In the eyes of many Noble should have been picked due to his form. He has been one of the most consistent English centre midfielders this season. It’s hard for Hammers fans to see him behind Henderson and Milner in the pecking order, maybe it’s their ego and caps that get them in the team, it’s certainly possible to argue the Liverpool men haven’t matched the standard of Noble’s performances this season.

Cries for an England call up will not stop and they’ll only grow louder should Noble continue his fine form once the Premier League resumes this weekend. The man from Canning Town recently (28/03/16) celebrated his testimonial at the Boleyn Ground, the last testimonial before the Hammers move into the Olympic Stadium next season. Noble will hope, and is right to expect, based on his performances, that he’ll also be celebrating an international call-up this summer.

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