Ahead of Mark Noble's Testimonial, ex-Hammer Glen Johnson says the skipper always had quality from a young age
Ex-West Ham United right-back Glen Johnson says Mark Noble, even from a young age, has always possessed the qualities needed to be a top Premier League footballer.
The Hammers skipper’s Testimonial match will be played at the Boleyn Ground on Monday 28 March and Johnson is part of the All Stars team that Noble will face.
And the Stoke City man had nothing but praise for his former teammate as he spoke ahead of the match.
He said: “I remember playing with Mark back when he was 14 and he came to train with the first team.
“Even then, at that young age, you could see he had the sort of ability to be the type of guy that could move on and become the type of player he has.
“I remember Joe Cole certainly saying that the boy played well and is doing all the right things and has got a good head on his shoulders, so he couldn’t have been any better at that age.”
Johnson thinks Noble, who has been at the Club almost 13 years, might be one of the last players around to be a one-club man.
“It’s great these days when players can stay at one club and dominate his position as he has done for many years.
“Nowadays, players seem to move clubs more often and he’s probably one of the last that can stay at a club for that length of time with [Jamie] Carragher and Stevie [Gerrard] moving on.
“I don’t think many more will do it.”
The Hammers skipper’s Testimonial match will be played at the Boleyn Ground on Monday 28 March and Johnson is part of the All Stars team that Noble will face.
And the Stoke City man had nothing but praise for his former teammate as he spoke ahead of the match.
He said: “I remember playing with Mark back when he was 14 and he came to train with the first team.
“Even then, at that young age, you could see he had the sort of ability to be the type of guy that could move on and become the type of player he has.
“I remember Joe Cole certainly saying that the boy played well and is doing all the right things and has got a good head on his shoulders, so he couldn’t have been any better at that age.”
Johnson thinks Noble, who has been at the Club almost 13 years, might be one of the last players around to be a one-club man.
“It’s great these days when players can stay at one club and dominate his position as he has done for many years.
“Nowadays, players seem to move clubs more often and he’s probably one of the last that can stay at a club for that length of time with [Jamie] Carragher and Stevie [Gerrard] moving on.
“I don’t think many more will do it.”