Captain Mark Noble is now entering the 2nd half of his final season as a player for West Ham, with the Irons legend set to call time on his 17 year career in the claret & blue this summer in what is expected to be a highly emotional farewell.

Vice-captain and close friend Declan Rice has paid tribute to the midfielder, highlighting that Nobes still pushes Rice and others every day in training whilst describing him as a second Dad to him.

“To this day he is still on me in training if I do things that are not up to the standard that he thinks I can do it and that is what I want,” said Rice.

“I want to be pushed and there is probably nobody better who knows this club inside out and has played the games that he has to tell me that.

“He is like my second dad, it is hard to explain but he is the best and still a top player, top three trainers every day, he never gives the ball away and one of the best passers I have ever seen.”

Manager David Moyes was also complimentary of the Hammers number 16, stating that he hopes Rice will continue to follow in his footsteps as a West Ham legend.

“Being captain of West Ham is a big deal, when you look at the great captains at this club over the years, none more so than Mark Noble,” said the boss.

“There are examples prior to that but I think Mark Noble would still wear the captain’s armband if he was playing in the team and not coming near to retirement. But overall he has a role model to look up to in Mark Noble and we hope that Declan can keep carrying it and improving.”