Mark Noble praises veteran defender James Collins

West Ham United midfielder Mark Noble has praised the impact defender James Collins has had at the club as he enters his ninth season at Upton Park.

The 31-year-old initially joined the Hammers in 2005 from Cardiff City following their promotion to the Premier League, and played for the club for four years before leaving to sign for Aston Villa.

However, Sam Allardyce brought the defender back to the Boleyn Ground in 2012 and he has proved to be a solid contributor for the Hammers, which has not gone unnoticed by Noble.

He told the club's official website: "I knew [Collins] when he came here from Cardiff. He had a terrible big ginger barnet and wore horrendous clothes! But London changed him in a year. He had all the new gear on and a new haircut.

"I can't speak highly enough of him. We get on so well and everyone knows he gives everything in training and in games. He has been a great servant to the club."

West Ham have already started their season with a 3-0 win over FC Lusitanos in the first round of qualifying for the Europa League.