West Ham manager Slaven Bilic has jumped to the defence of club-captain Mark Noble, saying that the 29-year-old shouldn't be judged for his one mistake against Chelsea on Monday night.
Noble carelessly gave the ball away from an attacking position against their west-London rivals, eventually leading to Eden Hazard's opener in a 2-1 win for the league-leaders.
But Bilic has overlooked his mistake, claiming that Noble's influence both on and off the pitch is invaluable.
You can't just judge a player on one mistake", theDaily Starquote the Croatian manager as saying.
Otherwise Barcelona should have sold all their players after the first leg in Paris. Now they should give them all long-term contracts. For Paris it's the other way round - sell them all!
6 reasons West Ham need to drop Mark Noble - https://t.co/HRusuwBX71
By @MitchWaddon pic.twitter.com/ZcFzDYYVWI
Before Chelsea I was asked about Noble possibly deserving an England call up. Now, after nothing basically, I am being asked, ˜What about Mark Noble?'.
It's about believing in your team. Sometimes he has a great game, sometimes he doesn't but overall he is playing well for us.
On the pitch he is very influential. Especially when it is not going well. He motivates the players and he cheers them up.
And he is more than a player on the pitch. He is a leader.�
West Ham occupy 11th in the Premier League ahead of their trip to Bournemouth on Saturday, where a win could lift them above Stoke City into ninth.