West Ham midfielder Noble faces month out after surgery
Noble had impressed during West Ham's difficult start to the season
West Ham midfielder Mark Noble is out for up to a month after having an operation to remove his appendix.
The 23-year-old was seen by the club's doctor after complaining of stomach problems on Monday.
His injury is a fresh blow to the Hammers, who are without fellow midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger for four months because of a thigh injury.
Noble has started all 10 Premier League matches this season for West Ham, who are bottom of the table on six points.
The former England Under-21 international underwent an hour-long operation in hospital on Monday night.
Noble has scored twice this season, netting penalties against Bolton and Wolves, and starred in last week's 3-1 defeat of Stoke, which sent West Ham into the Carling Cup quarter-finals.
With the recovery period for such an operation usually expected to be four weeks, he could potentially be fit for that last-eight match at home to Manchester United, which has been scheduled for Tuesday 30 November.
His absence leaves Hammers manager Avram Grant with a selection headache in midfield as long-term absentee Jack Collison may not return until the new year and the appearances of injury-plagued Kieron Dyer are being carefully managed.
Valon Behrami, Radoslav Kovac and Luis Boa Morte are possible replacements in central midfield for Noble, who has been playing alongside Scott Parker.
Meanwhile, Grant hopes that defenders Matthew Upson and Manuel da Costa - who are carrying minor knocks - will be ready for Saturday's trip to Birmingham.
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