West Ham United captain Mark Noble has revealed that he doesn't hesitate in picking fights with his teammates who are underperforming in training.

The energetic midfielder added that apart from ensuring lofty standards at training, he acts as the link between the playing group and manager Slaven Bilic at the club.

“I've always seen myself as the buffer between the boss and the players," Noble said in an interview with the Daily Mail.

“The gaffer doesn't have to look after every single small problem that goes on. I'll try to nip it in the bud before it gets to him.

“Sometimes, if training is not quite right, I will purposely make a point of saying something or having an argument with someone who I know will have one back with me. It lets the lads know it's not good enough and it's better coming from me than it would be from the boss.

“The last thing he wants to do is interrupt every two minutes. For a player that becomes, 'Oh he's off again…'."