Liam Noble: 'I am more experienced and mature'

Notts County midfielder Liam Noble has stressed that he is more experienced and mature compared to his last spell at Meadow Lane and is eager to repay Kevin Nolan and Alan Hardy's faith in re-signing him.

The 26-year-old left Notts in 2016 to join Mark Cooper's Forest Green Rovers and helped the Green Devils to promotion from the National League, as well as earning himself the captain's armband.

Noble's spell at the New Lawn ended somewhat acrimoniously, however, as he was ruled out indefinitely due to a medical condition before being released by mutual consent, citing a desire to be closer to his family in the North-East.

Now re-signed by Notts, Noble insists he is a "fresh" new player and a different proposition to the card-happy, temperamental footballer he once was.

"I'm buzzing to be back," he told the official Notts site. "I had a good chat with the manager and his staff to make sure I was willing to work to the high standards they set every day, which I was always going to do.

"I looked up to the manager when he played for Newcastle. He was a top-class midfielder so I knew his standards were always going to be high and you can see that in training.

"The lads know when to have a laugh but once we cross the white line for a match or training, we are switched on and giving 100% day in, day out.

"It's a good place to come to work every day. Not much is similar to when I was last here. It's become a totally different club in the time I've been away.

"I need to repay the faith of the manager and the chairman for bringing me back because some people will question the move. But it'a fresh club and a fresh Liam Noble.

"I dropped down to the National League, which was a hard league to get out of, and I had a different mentality going into games.

"I was in a good place and played a lot. I only got booked seven times and didn't get sent off.

"I'm more experienced and mature now. I'm 26 years old so I need to get my head screwed on.

"Come January it's my time to shine and help the rest of the squad keep us up where we want to be."

Share your thoughts about this news story on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans.

Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.