Mark Noble has opened up on something brilliant West Ham United youngster George Earthy said to him four years ago.
George Earthy is set to emulate Mark Noble by coming through the academy and going on to represent the West Ham first-team.
Noble, 37, has been brilliant with the youngsters during his time with the Hammers, and he mentored the likes of Declan Rice for years before he moved to Arsenal.
Earthy is the latest star to emerge from our academy, and Noble will undoubtedly be keeping a very close eye on him, both on and off the pitch.
The 19-year-old starlet made his Premier League debut for West Ham last month, but it ended in disaster after he was knocked out in the pitch and sent to hospital.
It wasn’t a serious injury in the end, and the under-21s star has returned with a bang.
He came on as a substitute for the Hammers during our final home game of the season against Luton, and proceeded to score our third and final goal.
Earthy demonstrated sensational movement that provided him with the space to put the ball in the back of the net.
The teenager has 14 goals and 10 assists to his name in 27 games for the under-21s so far this season (Transfermarkt).
He’s a special, special talent and it seems as though he was always destined to reach the top…
West Ham fans will love what Mark Noble said about George Earthy
The Hammers clearly have an exceptionally gifted young player on our hands, and I fully expect him to go on and play some kind of role for the first-team next season.
He definitely has the ability, but whether he has the mentality needed to reach the top remains to be seen.
In fairness to him, the early signs are very good….
Noble spoke to WHUFC.com about his admiration for Earthy, after the 19-year-old picked up the under-21s player of the season award:
“After playing a big part in the U18s’ success last year, winning the FA Youth Cup and league double, the challenge for him was to push on again and find another level, and he has done that. This season has seen him make another huge step in making his first-team debut in the UEFA Europa League and then a first appearance in the Premier League, too.”
“He has a fantastic attitude towards his development. He works hard on and off the pitch, listens to advice and always wants to get better. It is testament to his personality and talent that the first-team players have accepted him into the group, and you could see when he came on against Fulham last month that they immediately trusted him. George has been with the Academy since the age of six, so he knows the Football Club inside out and loves being here. At the age of seven, he walked out with me as a mascot – I still have the photograph – and it has been a pleasure to watch him grow and develop ever since then, both as a player and as a person.”
Noble shares what Earthy did four years ago
“I’ll never forget, around four years ago, I was first-team captain at the time, and George was 15. I was at Chadwell Heath with my son, and George asked me if I would watch some of his clips with him in the video room because he wanted to learn and find that little extra to help push him on. That told me all about his attitude and his determination to be better. If he continues to work hard and build on the progress he has made this year, I’ve no doubt he has everything it takes to have a big future at this Club.”
That is absolutely brilliant to hear from Noble about Earthy.
Not only is he incredibly talented, but he’s clearly extremely driven to improve every single day as well.
Mark Noble will guide George Earthy through the good and bad times and who knows, maybe the 19-year-old will captain West Ham one day as well.
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