AT JUST 18-years-old, Frank Nouble has already learned from some of the best strikers in the business. And now he is ready to start translating that wealth of knowledge onto the pitch as he bids to stamp his mark on West Ham’s first team.

The youngster has experienced at first hand what makes arguably the continent’s most in-form striker tick. During his formative years at Chelsea, Nouble would study the intricacies of Didier Drogba’s game, while he also observed the talents of Nicolas Anelka, a player who is in his pomp at Stamford Bridge.

And now, having made the switch across London to Upton Park last summer, there are few better target men around than Carlton Cole from whom to draw experience.

It helps that Nouble is built and is in the process of being moulded into a combination of both Drogba and Cole; strong as an ox on the ball, a powerful frontman with an eye for goal.

“It is easy to watch Carlton in training because I am with him every day,” said Nouble, after making his first start for West Ham on a stage no less grand than the third round of the FA Cup against Arsenal on Sunday. “I learned from Drogba and Anelka when I was at Chelsea and from Carlton Cole now that I am here.

“I am learning from the best, and hopefully I can take it all on board and in a couple of years time I should have learned a lot.”

Nouble was given the first real chance by Gianfranco Zola to strut his stuff from the outset against the Gunners. The striker’s best moments came early on in the second half, with West Ham leading by a single Alessandro Diamanti goal. He muscled his way forward on two occasions and shot wide from the edge of the box, although he was given a tough time by two of the Premier League’s finest defenders in William Gallas and Thomas Vermaelen before he was substituted for another young striker, Freddie Sears, who made his first appearance for the Hammers since returning from a loan spell at Crystal Palace.

“I didn’t find out I was playing until the last minute, actually,” added Nouble. “Two hours before the game the manager let me know. I think that helped, but you always have to be prepared to get out there and play.

“The plan was just to put myself about, play as well as I can and use my body to hold the ball up as often as I could. I was a bit nervous in the first five minutes of the game, but after I got my first chance I felt all right.

“I am still only 18, and hopefully I can make more of an impact in games in the future. I am happy that I’ve got my first start and hopefully now I can get more time on the pitch in the league games.”

With Cole still out of action with a knee injury, and young Zavon Hines also sidelined, Nouble could yet play a key role in guiding the club away from relegation.

“I don’t want a relegation on my CV. I think we will get out of trouble. If we can win a couple of games we will be up to 12th or something like that. Hopefully we can start by beating Wolves next week.”