HE’S GOT the shirt, now he just needs the goals.

Mark Noble emerged from the dressing room in high spirits on Saturday, despite West Ham’s 3-0 defeat at the hands of Liverpool. For not only had he put in one of his finest performances of the season in the claret and blue, but he had escaped the field of battle with Steven Gerrard’s shirt fastened tightly around his waist.

For Noble, it was the final piece of the jigsaw, that already includes the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Paul Scholes and Frank Lampard.

There is a little bit of each of them in the Hammers’ youngster: The tenacity of Scholes, so evident in Saturday’s game, as he could be seen harrying and chasing Liverpool’s red armada.

There is Fabregas’ desire to dictate the pace of the game, frequently demanding the ball from the back four in an attempt to drive his team forward.

And there is Lampard’s willingness to get forward and join the attack whenever possible.

But where are the Gerrard goals?

The England star took his tally for the season to 24 with two strikes at Upton Park. Noble has just five.

The 21-year-old clearly idolises his opposite number, hailing him as ‘the best’ in the business after the game. But he refuses to settle for a place in Gerrard’s shadow, and hopes one day to illuminate matches in the same way that football fans have come to expect from the 28-year-old Scouser, which would include adding that killer instinct in front of goal to his growing repertoire.

“He’s the best in my eyes, even given the praise he does get, I still don’t think he gets enough,” said Noble. “He’s one of the best in Europe, with the goals he scores, he’s just the best.

“I don’t ask for many (shirts). I’ve got Scholes, Fabregas, Lampard and (Joe) Cole’s at home and now Gerrard’s.

“I like getting the best midfielders in the country and Gerrard’s completed my collection.

“Everyone wants to be that good. As well as a fantastic brain, he’s strong, he’s quick and he’s powerful. He’s got everything, and if I can be nearly as good as him then I’ll be pleased.

“I’d certainly like to add more goals to my game. I’m pretty OK at everything else, tackling and passing, but I’d like to score a few more goals and hopefully I can do that next season.”

Noble has put a patchy period firmly behind him with a series of stirring displays in recent weeks.

And he has timed his return to form perfectly, as West Ham are aiming to secure a Europa League place in the final two games, while he will have a key role to play in England Under 21s’ quest for glory in this summer’s European Championships in Sweden.

“We’re definitely going to need the six points (against Everton and Middlesbrough) to get seventh,” Noble accepted.

“But the Euros will be my chance to win something this year.”