January 21, 2026
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Sam speaks ahead of Swans test

By
Jamie Freeman
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Sam Allardyce - West Ham manager

Sam Allardyce spoke to the media this morning ahead of Sunday’s Premier League trip to Swansea City.

The Hammers manager confirmed that there are no fresh injuries to worry about since last weekend’s loss to Manchester City.

And Allardyce was also tight lipped about how he’ll line up at the Liberty Stadium, with many fans guessing at whether he’ll stick with his new 4-6-0 formation.

He told whufc.com: “We’ve got no new injuries from what we had last week.

“We’ve still got Alou Diarra, James Collins and George McCartney out with injury and of course Andy Carroll who everyone knows is our long term injury.

“We’ve got games Sunday, Tuesday and Saturday so we’ve got a big week ahead of us. The players that are available are in good spirits but we could do with the other players being back fit as quick as possible.

“It worked very, very well in the first game [the 4-6-0 formation] and didn’t work quite so well in the second. It’ll be our choice in the next two days on whether we do change the system or we don’t.”

Allardyce also admitted that Carlton Cole will again be in the squad against Swansea on Sunday, but is unlikely to start while he remains not quite match fit.

“Cole is ready to be involved with the squad but I don’t think he’s ready to start from a match fitness point of view,” Allardyce said.

“Carlton’s experience, if needed off the subs bench, could be invaluable at the moment so he’ll be in the squad for Sunday.”

Twitter View: Noble ambition

By
Jamie Freeman
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0
Mark Noble

Over the last two season the first name I look for when the England squad is announced ahead of international fixtures is Mark Noble.

I feel that he’s one of the most underrated midfielders in the Premier League and an England call up is well over due. I’ve always argued that had he been playing for a bigger Premier League club he’d have had his call up years ago.

Noble’s performances this season in particular have been, arguably, the best of his career so far. He appears to be thriving in Sam Allardyce’s new 4-6-0 formation, and that showed in his Man of the Match performance against Manchester City last weekend.

And today Noble admitted that he believes he is good enough to earn a place in England’s World Cup squad for next summer’s tournament in Brazil, while co-chairman echoed those thoughts with claims that he would be disappointed if Noble isn’t at least called up for November’s friendlies with Chile, Germany and Denmark.

But what do the fans think? Obviously supporters of other clubs think it’s all a big joke, with a basic search on Twitter revealing scores of tweets saying “hahahahahaha” and “LOL.” But Hammers fans can see Noble’s point.

Here are some of the comments made by both West Ham and neutral fans on Twitter both before Noble’s comments and after…

[tweet https://twitter.com/janhopis/status/391615285850943488]

[tweet https://twitter.com/SW54321/status/391616978764726272]

[tweet https://twitter.com/DannyMurphs/status/391624847115452416]

[tweet https://twitter.com/JakeRowe1/status/391690734421938176]

[tweet https://twitter.com/Sidd3rz92/status/391633882980057089]

[tweet https://twitter.com/Troddy22/status/391633901149360128]

[tweet https://twitter.com/LeeSalter/status/391613230587863040]

[tweet https://twitter.com/abarber485/status/393409897091833856]

[tweet https://twitter.com/Ollinho22/status/393390502860845056]

[tweet https://twitter.com/TheAngusJellis/status/393410505596870656]

[tweet https://twitter.com/adiesmith64/status/393413940849692672]

[tweet https://twitter.com/Sibbo_ITF/status/393417482222182400]

What do you think? Is Noble worthy of an England call up? Is he always being overlooked because he doesn’t play for a bigger team? Or is he plainly not good enough to make the step up to international level? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

Noble stakes England claim

By
Jamie Freeman
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1
Mark Noble scores v Everton

Mark Noble believes he is good enough to earn an England call up for next summer’s World Cup in Brazil.

The 26-year-old midfielder has been in fine form for the Hammers so far this season, putting in a number of impressive performances, and has most notably excelled in Sam Allardyce’s new 4-6-0 formation used against Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City.

And Noble feels that his consistency in the Premier League over the years is worthy of a call up by Roy Hodgson.

He told whufc.com: “I believe I am good enough. I have seen the players we have had here who have been in the England set-up and I believe that if I made that step up, I would be able to mentally and physically cope with it.

“I have obviously played in the Premier League week-in, week-out, since I was about 19 and played at a good level. I’m not going to go around shouting that I should be in the squad and all that because I’m not that sort of person.

“If it happens, it happens, but I am just going to keep enjoying my football, getting on the ball, enjoying passing and creating stuff and if it happens, it happens.”

And co-chairman David Gold is also in the belief that Noble has done enough for international recognition and admits he would be disappointed if it doesn’t happen.

“There a three friendlies coming up [against Chile, Germany and Denmark] and I believe he will be in the manager’s mind,” Gold told SportsDirect News.

“For me he has the ability and application to be part of the England World Cup squad.

“Mark showed us all what he’s all about against Manchester City. It was a remarkably efficient performance in a difficult game.”

Spence loaned to Dons

By
Jamie Freeman
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0
Jordan Spence - West Ham defender

Jordan Spence has joined League One side MK Dons on a month-long emergency loan.

The 23-year-old defender has already spent a month on loan at Sheffield Wednesday this season, making four league appearances for the Owls.

And now Spence could make his MK Dons debut away to Tranmere Rovers on Saturday and will be helping them continue their push for a play-off spot.

The Woodford-born youngster joins Jack Collison and Stephen Henderson (both AFC Bournemouth), Elliot Lee (Colchester United) and Paul McCallum (Torquay United) who are all enjoying spells on loan this season.

Cole hungry for first team chance

By
Jamie Freeman
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0
Carlton Cole with new Hammers shirt

Carlton Cole is desperate for a return to first-team action for the Hammers after coming through another 90 minutes with the Development Squad.

The has been battling back to match fitness after re-signing for the club two weeks ago, and was an unused substitute in the 3-1 home loss to Manchester City on Saturday evening.

And Cole is now eager to be given a chance by Sam Allardyce and help West Ham get back to winning ways in the Premier League.

He told whufc.com: “I want to get back in the thick of things now, I had a taste of the bench on Saturday against Manchester City and I just wanted to get on so much.

“The manager felt it was best not to throw me in at the deep end so fast, to try and get this game under my belt and be available for selection in the other first team games.

“I need the minutes under my belt and I’ve now played two 90 minutes so, hopefully, I can convince the manager to get me in the squad, coming on as a sub or even starting a game sometime soon.”

And after training with the club’s youth players in an attempt to get fit, Cole has some good words to say about the club’s young prospects.

“There are some brilliant, very promising players,” he added.

“In all positions they’re very solid, strong and hopefully they can go on to be good players for the club.

“That’s the main aim, to develop them in these conditions and Nick’s doing a brilliant job with that. The players just have to listen to him, trust him and he’ll make sure they come through.”

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