Mark Noble delighted to be named West Ham's new captain: 'It's very special'

Mark Noble has been named as West Ham's new captain after Kevin Nolan parted ways with the east London club by mutual consent.

The 28-year-old midfielder has already worn the armband in recent weeks but was officially confirmed as the new skipper during a short ceremony at the Hammers' training ground on Monday morning.

Noble, who was born in Canning Town, is delighted to have been handed the honour by manager Slaven Bilic and believes that his close roots to the club have made the moment even more special.

“When you are at a massive Barclays Premier League club like West Ham United playing in the best league in the world, to be captain and be brought up in the same area is something very special for me, for my family and the fans because they can relate to it," he told the club's official website.

Although Nolan's stature in the side diminished during the latter stages of his reign with the armband, Noble is adamant that he has learned from the veteran's leadership in the dressing room.

“I have stood in for Kevin Nolan in the past and, in my eyes, he has been a top captain for this club. He has brought the dressing room together and done all the stuff on the inside that nobody sees.

“I’ve watched Kev and how he dealt with things and I’ve learned a lot from him and hopefully I can be as good a captain as he was.

"I think it helps that I have been at the club for a long time and I know everyone and how it all works, and the experience I have had playing for West Ham in the Premier League, and I am looking forward to being the buffer between the players and the manager."

Noble is West Ham's all-time leading appearance maker in the Premier League and is set to further cement his place in the club's history as he will be the last player to lead the team out at Upton Park prior to their move to the Olympic Stadium next season.

The midfielder has enjoyed an impressive start to the campaign and already scored two goals - the same total he managed in the whole of the previous campaign - ahead of this evening's clash against Newcastle.

A victory for Bilic's side tonight would see the Hammers climb to fifth place in the Premier League table.