West Ham United Football Club News

• Nickname:Hammers
• Founded:1895
• Manager:Sam Allardyce

• Ground:Upton Park
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Curbishley gives Noble a rest

21 Mar 2008 - 07:18:26

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West Ham United boss Alan Curbishley has revealed that he asked for midfielder Mark Noble to be left out of the England Under-21s squad for fear of the youngster suffering burnout in the coming weeks.

Twenty-year-old Noble was omitted from Stuart Pearce's party for the friendly against Poland, with Curbishley concerned that his player was starting to flag after a tough campaign in the Hammers midfield.

He said: "I went to see Stuart Pearce a couple of weeks ago, because the last time Mark went away to play against Ireland we had to give him two days off when he came back because he was shattered after putting so much in.

"I had the conversation with Stuart about burnout because Mark Noble up until about two weeks ago, along with Hayden Mullins, had played just about every game for us.

"It is a friendly, so Stuart has taken the opportunity to give him a rest.

"Mark came in for the final ten games of last year and did fantastically well, then he went off to the Under-21s tournament where he was just a squad member, but he forced his way into the team and played all the games.

"He has had a long run in the side and I have left him out a couple of times, then he has looked fresh when he has come on.

"It is still a learning thing for him and it will make him stronger physically and mentally for next year."