West Ham players challenged to win FA Cup for captain Mark Noble as David Moyes hints at new deal

David Moyes has challenged his West Ham players to go and win the FA Cup for captain Mark Noble, while hinting at a new deal for the midfielder.

Noble has fallen down the pecking order under Moyes this season thanks to the performances of Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek in midfield.

However, the 33-year-old, who will be back in the side for Saturday's FA Cup fourth round tie against Doncaster Rovers, remains a key figure in the dressing room. Noble's most recent start game in the third round at Stockport where he battled and berated opponents and officials like it was his debut.

Noble has clocked up more than 500 appearances for his boyhood club and, as he reaches the twilight of his career, Moyes feels a Cup triumph would be a perfect reward.

"I think it would be something that a lot of people at West Ham would think was a great thing," said Moyes. "I think for Mark Noble it would be exceptional because he's had a very long career at West Ham, albeit maybe in some difficult times and through some difficult periods.

"But the one thing I thought went amiss was Mark played against Stockport, on what was as bad a night as you can get with the conditions nearly [like] going back 20 years ago, Mark Noble's attitude to the game was as if it was his first, and it could have been anywhere. It could have been at Wembley. He played the game with the attitude of a real, true professional. He took the ball, played in the bad weather, and was arguably our best player.

"Some of Mark Noble's performances have been excellent. He was great for us against Chelsea."

Noble is out of contract in the summer but Moyes has hinted at an extension to his deal saying the club legend is here for the "long term".

Moyes said: "So Mark's right in my thoughts, right from the start. The form of Declan and Tomas has made it difficult for him to get in but I would have no qualms about putting Mark in the team at any time. As far as I'm concerned he's here for the long term and I need him on the pitch and off the pitch."