West Ham forced to sweat over fitness of midfielder Mark Noble in relegation run-in

Mark Noble, West Ham United

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West Ham are still sweating over the fitness of Mark Noble ahead of their Premier League game against Manchester City this weekend, as the full extent of the midfielder’s injury is still to be assessed.

Tests carried out on Tuesday confirmed the 23-year-old has suffered a problem, however, further tests are needed to determine whether the injury is – as expected – a hernia.

If this is the case, the former England Under-21 international will almost certainly require surgery, which would keep him out for the rest of the season.

Noble’s absence will be a massive blow to the Hammers, who are already without midfielders Scott Parker and Gary O’Neil, as the east London club battles against Premier League relegation.

If Noble was to be ruled out of the game against City on Sunday, then natural defender Jonathan Spector would most probably be drafted into the West Ham midfield once again.

However, the 25-year-old American insists this is not a problem and said he is happy to be helping his side in their attempt to ensure Premier League football is still being played at Upton Park next season.

He told the club’s official website: “I think every player wants to play. They are massive games coming up and it is a big stage for us.

“There is certainly the added pressure of that Premier League status, which we definitely want to hang on to.”

“It is a very different team from the one we had that stayed up four years ago.

“It is a strong team that we have right now, probably stronger than we had back then. But it hasn’t happened for us this season but now we have to come together as a group and get some points.”

He added: “There could be quite a few players who could have an important role and have a massive impact on these games that we have left. There have been times when we have played really good football and a lot of people have been looking at us and saying, ‘They are too good to go down’.

“They were saying that about Newcastle a couple of seasons ago and we don’t want to repeat what they did. I am not sure there is a secret. It is about hard work and determination and the guts to want the ball, to want to play and to stick to your gameplan even if it is not going well for you.”