Mark Noble says he has no regrets about never having represented his country at senior level.
The former Hammer, who retired at the end of last season failed to make a single appearance for the Three Lions despite having played in excess of 400 senior appearances for West Ham in the top flight.Embed from Getty Images
Noble representing the England team in Soccer Aid at the London Olympic Stadium earlier this year
Noble representing the England team in Soccer Aid at the London Olympic Stadium earlier this year
It was a regular bone of contention amongst Hammers fans that Noble, who represented the Under 21s on 20 occasions was never called up even when he was at peak form.
Yet the 35-year-old, who recently returned from a media course in the United States insisted that it is not something that has ever kept him awake at nights - even though he felt he was more than capable of making the step up.
"Do I feel that I deserved the chance at some point? In some seasons, yes," he told his fellow former Hammers on the latest episode of the Joe Cole Cast, which you may listen to here.
"I look at it that I've had nine or ten different managers and played under every one of them. That's English, foreign, different styles. And obviously I've played over 400 Premier League games. There's no way you play under all those managers and play that many games if you can't do it.
"Do I believe I should've played for England? Yes, of course I do. But does it affect me? Not one little bit. People might say 'yeah, whatever, he's just saying that', but I'm speaking openly and honestly - and it doesn't affect me one little bit.
"I said on something else the other day, would I change my career with some players that have had one or two England caps and not have the Premier League [appearances] and career I've had? No, I wouldn't.
"If you look at the send off and my last season at West Ham, there aren't many players in the world that get that kind of send off and that sort of reception.
"I loved watching you play for England and I love watching England but to be honest it never really fussed me. I dreamed about playing for West Ham and I dreamt of captaining West Ham and all that and I've done that.
"Would an England cap be the icing on the cake? Of course. But do I worry that it didn't happen? Not one little bit."
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