West Ham United Football Club News

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

• Ground:Upton Park
• Capacity:35,595

Hernia op sidelines Noble

09 Nov 2007 - 07:45:26

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West Ham United's England Under-21s midfielder Mark Noble will be out for several weeks after being forced to undergo surgery on a double hernia problem.

The 20-year-old has been struggling in recent weeks and the Hammers have decided that an operation has become a necessity.

Manager Alan Curbishley said: "Mark Noble had a hernia operation on Tuesday and, while he was there, it was decided that he needed double hernia surgery.

"He's having the second one done on Friday. He's been having this problem for a couple of months, but he didn't let on and perhaps that's significant.

"I left Mark out of the team recently because I felt he was tired and perhaps needed a rest and I remember him saying that rest was for the summer.

"But he's been going full pelt for the last five or six months and not really had any recovery time, apart from two weeks off in the summer.

"I think it's just natural, you're dealing with a young boy who just wants to play and thinks he can get through it.

"It's probably a little bit of naivety from a young player who wants to play every week and is desperate to play for his club. We'll put it down to experience."