Paolo Di Canio has confirmed he will be taking part in Mark Noble's West Ham United testimonial.

The Hammers will honour captain Noble with a match at Upton Park's Boleyn Ground on March 28 and there has been a special announcement regarding the presence of Dai Canio.

Italian legend Di Canio will be back in East London to help celebrate the career of midfielder Noble who was over the moon to confirm that such a player would be featuring.

"When I was coming up through the Academy, Paolo was the man we all looked up to - he was a genius with the ball, and such a character on and off the pitch," Noble said on the club's official website.

"If you'd told me then that he'd be coming back one day to play in my Testimonial match, I'd never have believed it.

"I'm so proud and grateful that Paolo will be there, with all the other Hammers lads. It is such an honour to share my big day with them on Easter Monday, and especially so to be doing it at the Boleyn Ground, in our final season here."

Di Canio joins the likes of Rio Ferdinand, Carlton Cole, Craig Bellamy, Yossi Benayoun, Trevor Sinclair and Julian Dicks for the event which will raise money for a trio of charities - Richard House Children's Hospice, Help for Heroes and the DT38 Foundation - all chosen by Noble.