West Ham United

Mark Noble: 'We need Enner Valencia to fire'

By Simon Sinclair, Reporter | 04 August 2014

West Ham United midfielder Mark Noble tells Enner Valencia that he has to find his feet quickly at the club to help ease the problems of an injury crisis.

Mark Noble has called on new signing Enner Valencia to hit the ground running at West Ham United as injuries have taken their toll on the club during pre-season.

The Hammers will be without Andy Carroll for four months following an ankle injury while Guy Demel also picked up a problem in New Zealand.

The duo were joined on the sidelines by new arrival Carl Jenkinson, who picked up an injury in Sam Allardyce's side's defeat to Malaga.

Noble told reporters: "Obviously no pressure on him but we need him at the moment. We need another striker and we are light on players at the minute. Jenko has gone down with a slight hamstring.

"Guy Demel is not here and big AC [is missing]. We just need our squad back together and raring to go for the start of the season.

"I don't even think [the manager] knows his best XI at the minute with players getting injured and players who are not quite fit yet. Hopefully we can get another couple of signings in who can improve the squad and we can enjoy the season."

West Ham begin their Premier League campaign against Tottenham Hotspur on August 16.