YOU’RE NOT SINGING ANY MOUR
Moyes tells stars: Copy captain fantastic and we can stay up
DAVID MOYES has told his players to follow skipper Mark Noble’s lead to get out of trouble.
The Hammers face Wolves at the London Stadium today knowing they have nine games left to save their Premier League status.
And Moyes believes that Noble, born and brought up just around the corner from the club’s old Boleyn Ground and a Hammer since he was a schoolboy, will be crucial to their chances.
The 33-year-old, set to play his 496th game for the club tonight, was also the man who took the lead in talks as the players agreed a wage deferral when the Covid-19 crisis struck three months ago.
Now West Ham, with six defeats in their last nine games and only goal difference keeping them out of the bottom three, need him on the pitch as well.
Moyes said: “I have been asking the players to stand up and copy Mark – because there will be some days when we don’t have him.
“There will be days in the future when Mark Noble is not even available or here.
“So we have to make sure we have other players who are willing to step up to that mantle and take over from him.
“Mark took on an awful lot of responsibility with the players when wages were in discussion early on – and in talks with the other captains.
“Mark showed great leadership qualities. He’s handled himself remarkably well.
“They have spent hours and hours on the phone. Not just Mark, but many of the captains at all of the clubs.
“They all wanted to get the games under way, but wanted to do it safely, correctly and at the right time. Mark has been very much a part of that.
“He has got himself back, he is in good condition. He is really, really important to the team. I use the word responsibility. He takes the responsibility for the team.
“He takes a lot of responsibility from the players.”
Moyes also has Jack Wilshere – who has not played since October – fit again.
The Hammers boss said: “The biggest compliment I can give Jack is that he has trained every single day. He has done all the work. I am really pleased.”