Who will be West Ham’s new captain?

Reports suggest Slaven Bilic is assessing the position of club captain, and could be ready to announce a full time replacement to Kevin Nolan.

Several players have already led the side in pre-season, and with the squad playing on both the competitive and friendly front, there has been plenty of opportunity to weigh up the options.

Although Nolan remains at the club, there will be questions around how much game time he will be given.

There’s little doubt he is a powerful influence around the squad, and has enjoyed relative success since joining as the first major signing when the club was in The Championship.

But should a change be made, the leading contender to take over is Mark Noble.

The one-club midfielder is popular amongst fans, and his loyalty could be seen as deserving of a chance to lead his boyhood club.

The 28-year-old has been a first team regular since 2007, and undoubtedly has a wealth of Premier League experience, even if full International recognition has so far eluded him.

He has lead the team before, and captained the England Under 21 team.

Centre back Winston Reid is another candidate.

Although regularly linked with a move away from the club, he signed a long term contract in March, which could see him stay until he is 33.

He has been earmarked as the only centre back guaranteed a start, and has long been hailed the most assured defender in the team.

As New Zealand captain, he certainly brings leadership qualities, but he often appears uncomfortable in front of the media, which could be difficult if asked to fulfil more ambassadorial responsibilities.

The outside bet appears to be Alex Song.

The Barcelona midfielder has been widely linked with a return to the club after last season’s loan spell.

He was originally brought in by Sam Allardyce to marshal other players in the heart of the team. The former boss said Song would be able to add a level of communication to the midfield he felt was missing during a stuttering start.

And few would argue his arrival didn’t have a significant impact on the style of play and results before Christmas.

However, his form dripped, and he has yet to secure a return, suggesting he is unlikely to lead the side out on the first game.

Whoever Bilic decides to hand the armband to, there will certainly be an expectation for that player to lead the club forward into a new era.

He will be responsible for galvanising the team, ensuring every player plays with passion for the badge, and the club is in a position to move into the new stadium.

With those facts in mind, Mark Noble is the natural choice.