I think that with the season drawing to a close, it’s time for me to own up to you and admit that I was wrong at the start of the campaign.

I wrote here that, in my opinion, Mark Noble was the incorrect choice to be our captain following Kevin Nolan’s departure from the club. And I’m happy to say I was very wrong indeed!

I didn’t think that Noble would be an ever-present fixture in the team this year, with the amount of other midfield quality that we have, and thought Slaven Bilic’s decision was made with emotions rather than logic. However, Nobes has well and truly kept other contenders out of the team and has had what has arguably been his best ever season for the club.

I also thought that his passion for the club might cause his emotions to spill over, but he’s been a model professional – even carrying opposition player Ander Herrera off the pitch when injured.

Nobes has been in fine form this campaign, and I think he’s firmly cemented his place as a fan favourite. His testimonial showed not just how much respect other players have for him, but how much love there is for a ‘local boy done good’. It’s just such a shame that Roy Hodgson doesn’t feel the same way. Despite Mark having better stats and more game time than other players that are set to be on the plane to France, the England manager doesn’t see his potential.

At a recent press conference, Hodgson said: “We have a lot of players who over the last two years have worked very hard to establish themselves as England players. Those who are on the outside, still looking to get in, have got to convince me I’m better off leaving out a player I have been working with to make space.”

Now that’s all well and good, but when some of the players that will be going to the Euros have hardly made any appearances for their team this season, how can he justify taking them over a player in the best form of his life? It just doesn’t make sense to me.

Take Jack Wilshere, for example. He’s been out of action nearly all season due to a hairline crack in his calf bone and has played for just six minutes in the Premier League. But he will be in the squad for the Euros, despite his lack of game time. It’s ridiculous.

Noble is 28 now, and you can’t help thinking this is his last chance to get into the senior England team. It’s always nice to hear Bilic singing his praises on a regular occasion, but it would be even nicer to see him recognised at a higher level.

Let’s just hope he leads the Hammers team to victory in our last three games of the season, and to an even higher record points total. Come on you Irons!