West Ham's Mark Noble should get England call - he's one of Roy Hodgson's best options, says Slaven Bilic

England call? Slaven Bilic has backed Mark Noble as one of England's best
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Slaven Bilic5 February 2016

Mark Noble is in terrific form. He wants to play every game and was so disappointed to miss the Liverpool FA Cup match through illness that he was texting me all the time.

He is a great professional, a superb captain.

Having been a national coach, I am not one of those who would presume to tell Roy Hodgson that he should pick Mark but I would say there are not many English midfielders who have had a better season than him and for that reason I believe he should be rewarded.

There were people who questioned his skills in the past. They said yes, he is a good tackler, he was reliable and he was always there. The way he is playing with the ball now, though, it is on a level which should be high enough for England.

His critics have also said that he lacks pace. Maybe against a stop-watch but this is not athletics. You have many players who are not that quick but they are clever, they are reading the game and they know where the ball is going to be.

There are many players who before you buy them and when you are ticking the boxes, you ask: Are they quick? Are they strong? How is their left foot? Right foot? Heading and defensive ability?

Perhaps they are not great in those sections but, put it all together, they are still terrific and valuable players.

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