West Ham United captain Mark Noble has played down the significance of being snubbed from the first team.

The midfielder has started five of the club's eight Premier League games so far this season, but he was an unused substitute in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Burnley.

Rather than criticise manager Slaven Bilic, Noble has claimed that his absence proves how strong the team are, and he will understand if he is not named in the first XI for Friday's league match against Brighton & Hove Albion.

"Whether I am involved from the start or not [on Friday], I will prepare the same way and give the same input in the dressing room and on the pitch, either way," Noble told the club's official website.

"I have played regularly for this club for over a decade now, but we now have a bigger and stronger squad than ever and that means the manager will take decisions to pick certain players for certain matches.

"Some people might think a player being left out of the starting XI is a big talking point, but it isn't, for me. It's just the result of the club having a big squad full of quality players and only eleven of them can start the game."

The Hammers are just two points above the relegation zone.