Pardew's Noble intention

Teenager Mark Noble looks certain to make his full debut for West Ham in their FA Cup tie at home against Norwich.

Noble, who lives close to Upton Park, was a substitute in the Carling Cup tie at Chelsea earlier this season but tomorrow will see the first start for the England Under-18 midfielder.

West Ham manager Alan Pardew is forced into making other changes. Former Yeovil player Gavin Williams is cup-tied, while Bobby Zamora, who is being linked with a move to either Stoke or Reading, misses the game through suspension.

Nigel Reo-Coker is suffering from pleurisy and is ruled out, while Matthew Etherington, Teddy Sheringham, Steve Lomas and Christian Dailly are all injured.

One player who will be in West Ham's line-up tomorrow, though, is defender Malky Mackay, who captained Norwich in their promotion season but was then released. "It was incredible when that draw came out of the hat," said Mackay.

"This is obviously a special match for me. All week I've been trying to find out their team and throw them a few wobblers about ours. It was an unbelievable high at the club last season and I would have loved to be playing in the Premiership now.

"When they said they were prepared to let me go, I wanted to move on. I need to play football and I was thankful West Ham came in for me. I would say that, on paper and man for man, this West Ham squad are probably stronger than the Norwich one that won promotion."

Pardew has only praise for the attitude of the Scotland international. "Malky is a big player for us on the pitch," he said. "He is a leader."