Noble to miss remainder of season due to abdominal surgery

West Ham’s captain, Mark Noble, has played through an injury for considerable time this year. But with two fixtures remaining in the Premier League season and the Hammers’ status in the top flight confirmed, the 30-year-old midfielder will undergo surgery to repair an abdominal injury.

Noble powered through the injury and delayed the procedure. Yet after visiting a specialist prior to the Tottenham match, the surgery was deemed urgent, Head of Medical and Sports Science Stijn Vandenbroucke said.

Noble played against Spurs, though, and captained his side to a 1-0 victory last Friday. In 30 Premier League appearances this season, Noble scored three goals.

It has been an injury filled season for Noble and all of West Ham’s first team. The captain missed time previously this campaign with knee and ankle knocks.

Fellow central midfielder Pedro Obiang was ruled out for the year in March due to an ankle injury, while attacking options Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho will watch on for the remainder of the season. Also, Cheikhou Kouyate had wrist surgery, holding him out of the lineup.

Hammer of the Year, Michail Antonio, suffered a hamstring injury at the start of April in West Ham’s 1-0 victory over Swansea City. Despite the injury, the Hammers tied down Antonio for the foreseeable future with a new deal agreed Thursday.

Noble proved his commitment to the team and why he wears the armband. But the excess of injuries to the Hammers this year and every year draws concerns for players’ training and fitness.