West Ham United captain Mark Noble picked up a straight red card during Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Leicester City at the King Power Stadium, and is now set to miss the next three games as result.
The Hammers host Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday in the first-leg of the EFL Cup round-of-16; will welcome Burnley on Saturday before travelling to face Huddersfield Town next Saturday.
Considering the team’s current injury woes, especially in the middle of the park, Noble’s absence further deals a huge blow on their campaigns considering how important he has been for them this season.
The 31-year-old was superb in the league victories over Everton and Manchester United, while he also put in an impressive shift in the goalless draw against Chelsea.
With him missing in the next three crucial games, manager Manuel Pellegrini will be forced to change plans, and it is safe to say Noble hasn’t done the team any favours by getting himself sent-off following that reckless challenge on Wilfred Ndidi.
The next two league games present West Ham a huge chance to win back-to-back games in the top-flight for the first time in almost two years, given the current states of the Clarets and the Terriers.
However, they will have to do it without their influential skipper, and Pellegrini surely has a lot to worry about as regards who will effectively replace the Englishman.
