Matthew Upson praised Mark Nobel

Former West Ham United defender Matthew Upson has praised his former teammate Mark Noble for his tenacity and he feels that it is about time that Noble was selected for the England national team.

After coming through the ranks at West Ham, Noble went on to make several hundred appearances for the Upton Park outfit before being named as captain of the club. Now one of the established members of the squad, Noble continues to play a major role in the club’s push for a top four place in the Premier League. His form has not gone unnoticed by many of his peers.

However, England manager Roy Hodgson continues to look away from the possibility of selecting Noble. The 28-year-old has now received attention from his former teammate Upson, who currently plies his trade in the Championship with MK Dons. Upson also represented teams like Stoke City and Birmingham. He is considered as an experienced Premier League defender and he continues to shine in the Championship even at 36. Since making his debut at the age of 17, Noble has been a tremendous influence on West Ham, according to Upson. The duo played with each other for four years before Upson left the club permanently in 2011.

“He epitomises everything that West Ham is about, really. His commitment and tenacity over the years, playing in the middle of the park, stands out.His passion for the club does too, and that really filters into his game. He’s a great lad as a person too, and when you first join the club, he’s one of the first to welcome you in. He’s a local player and he’s been there his whole career, so he knows the club inside out.He’s such a warming, welcoming character, especially when you first sign,” said Upson.