Mark Noble enjoys quickfire return to action

West Ham United midfielder Mark Noble was delighted to be back in action much quicker than expected after having his appendix removed.

The 23-year-old started in the goalless draw with Blackpool at the weekend, less than two weeks after being taken ill.

He told the club's official website:"I said I wanted to try. They said it's impossible and I couldn't do it.

"I said that I felt okay. I trained and it felt fine. I asked before the game if anything could go wrong inside.

"The surgeon said it would be okay and thankfully he was right."

Of his recent hospital trip, Nobel added:"I was in agony.

"The doctor said we had to go to the hospital right away, chucked me in his car and I was on a drip within two hours.

"The surgeon said it was a couple of times the size it should have been and was within hours of bursting."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email