When you think about the most important players in the Premier League, Mark Noble isn't a name that instantly comes to mind.

Sure, he's a gritty, determined captain who is West Ham through and through, but at first glance, he's not the kind of player who'd have the biggest of impacts on any given scoreline. In fact, he's picked up more than three times as many yellow cards than goals in the top flight  this term.

But certain players are so unsung their impact is only evident when they're not in the side and much to West Ham's detriment, that's painfully true when it comes to their 30-year-old skipper.

Indeed, Slaven Bilic's boys haven't won a single Premier League clash without Noble in the starting XI this season, not least including a 4-0 thumping at the hands of Liverpool last weekend, whilst their lose rate jumps up by a whopping 21% in his absence.

Admittedly, some of the nine games in question have been amongst the toughest of West Ham's Premier League campaign; the Reds, Manchester City and Manchester United coming to the London Stadium and the Hammers travelling to White Hart Lane. But that batch also includes some of the easiest theoretically, such as clashes with two of the three relegated sides in Hull and Sunderland. Clearly, regardless of opponent, Noble's absence is sorely felt by his team-mates.

Querying as to why, two factors particularly stand out. Of course, there's a reason Noble's captain in east London and it's not just because of his servitude to the club. He's a real leader of the dressing room and a general in midfield - without him, the Irons seem to lack that organisation in their own and middle third, and that extra determination to raise their game against quality opposition. As he watched from the sidelines on Sunday, a number of West Ham players - including midfield partner Manuel Lanzini - slipped into walking mode.

Yet, Noble's influence goes a little deeper than that. The uncapped Englishman has never really lent himself to statistical praise, but if there's one return of his that does stand out, it's the number of passes he completes per match, the most of any player in West Ham's Premier League squad at 47.8. That perhaps explains West Ham's slump in possession when Noble's not in the side, and subsequently how control of the match seemingly slips away from them.

"Mark has been playing in pain, but he is the captain and he wanted to do everything he could to ensure the Club retained its Premier League status.

"Mark is as brave as they come and he ignored the pain as best he could, but the Premier League takes it toll.

"We attended an appointment with the specialist on the evening before the Tottenham game and it was deemed that the surgery was now urgent, he played in the game and played a big part in our victory that ensured the Club's safety."

Head of Medical and Sports Science Stijn Vandenbroucke on Noble's injury

Last week, West Ham revealed Noble needed an operation, having been playing with a hernia for a number of weeks - giving the phrase 'playing out of his skin' a whole new and slightly unsettling meaning. As much as that speaks volumes about Noble's character and what it adds to this inconsistent West Ham side, it also makes you wonder what mess the Irons would be in right now if their captain hadn't boldly played through the pain. It's also rather incredible to think some West Ham fans were calling for him to be dropped two months ago after a poor performance against Chelsea.

Indeed, he may not be the most glamorous or eye-catching footballer to ever grace the Premier League - or for that matter, the West Ham jersey - and he may now be coming to the end of his 13th season at senior level but his importance to this West Ham side, both in footballing and psychological terms, cannot be overstated. Is he still the Irons' most important player? Let us know by voting below...