Frank McAvennie expects Mark Noble to start v Doncaster in West Ham FA Cup clash – Exclusive
We’re delighted to welcome former West Ham United striker Frank McAvennie as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at the London Stadium…
David Moyes is expected to start Mark Noble in the West Ham midfield on Saturday when they take on Doncaster Rovers in the FA Cup, according to Frank McAvennie.
Noble, 33, has struggled for game-time at the London Stadium this season with the Irons captain earning just three starts in the Premier League.
However, he started and played all 90 minutes of West Ham’s third-round win over Stockport earlier this month and McAvennie believes the midfielder should be in Moyes’ line-up again versus Doncaster in East London this weekend.
“I think he’ll come in for that one,” McAvennie said while discussing Noble in an exclusive interview with West Ham Zone.
“He did well in the pouring rain against Stockport. It was bucketing down, the pitch was waterlogged, players were sliding about and it was a great game to watch.
“I thought Noble did very well so he’ll come back in and put some pressure on getting back into the team.”
West Ham have failed to progress past the fourth round of the FA Cup in each of their last four seasons, losing to teams from lower divisions on all but one of those occasions.
Darren Moore’s Doncaster are flying high in League One at the moment, sitting fourth in the table with seven wins in their last eight matches across all competitions.
However, McAvennie wants Noble to captain the Irons to a victory this weekend and is also dreaming about his former club reaching the final at Wembley.
“I expect to see Noble start and be captain at the weekend and I’m hoping they win it because I want a cup run,” Macca added.
“It would be great and maybe there’ll be a few West Ham fans allowed in at the final but that’s me fantasising and dreaming again.”
West Ham will play away at either Liverpool or Manchester United if they win against Doncaster at the London Stadium on Saturday.
Man United knocked the Hammers out of the FA Cup in 2012/13 and 2015/16 in recent years while the London club knocked Liverpool out of the competition when they last met in it in 2015/16.
In other West Ham news, the Irons are readying a big bid for Joshua King.