Manuel Pellegrini is eager to throw West Ham United captain Mark Noble straight into the action against Tottenham on Saturday, according to Football Insider.
The reputable football outlet claim on their website that the Hammers’ midfielder had a scan on the injury he picked up against Burnley, and that showed that he had sprained his ankle.
Football Insider report that Noble has been making good progress during the international break, and is expected to be given the all-clear for the game at the London Stadium.
It is suggested that 32-year-old is regarded as the player who sets the standards for West Ham and that their collapse was evident against Burnley when he left the field.
OPINION
The last thing West Ham need right now is to be missing a player of Noble’s experience in the build-up to a London derby. Spurs will be boosted by the arrival of Jose Mourinho, and Pellegrini will be dependant on the likes of Noble to come in and make it as difficult as possible for their opponents when they arrive in East London. The Hammers’ captain is the one player who is at the heart of everything for his side – he is the first to put in a big tackle or to play a long diagonal pass, either way, he is that player who gets the crowd boosted throughout contests. The 32-year-old being in the side also brings out the best of Declan Rice alongside him, and in a run where they haven’t won for almost two months, it is clear why Pellegrini would want his most-experienced option to be available in the heart of his side.
