Midfielder on return to the Park and Oxford draw
Just 24 hours after being announced as a loan signing back with Exeter City, midfielder David Noble was involved with the Grecians in the 1-1 draw at St James Park against Oxford United.Noble, who captained the side during his first tenure with City, came on for the final 20 minutes in the game against the U’s.
The midfielder began training with his teammates at the start of the week before his loan move from Oldham was confirmed, and he admitted that he had enjoyed being around familiar surroundings.
He was also pleased to have been given a good reception as he made his return in Grecians colours.
“I’m really happy to be back and I’m really looking forward to my time here,” said Noble.
“I’ve been back at the Cat & Fiddle since Monday – it wasn’t announced until Friday, but I have had a week back down in Devon.
“It was more a case of me asking Tis [to come to Exeter]. I’ve kept in touch with him ever since I’ve left, and he’s a man I really respect. I was really pleased to come back down.
“It’s good to see familiar faces and smiles. I’ve had a really good week.
“And I was really thankful to the fans for that reception – it was really pleasing. To hear them cheer for me is a great feeling.”
Since Noble left the side in 2012, there have been changes on and off the pitch, meaning he comes into a side that doesn’t have too many familiar personnel.
However he admitted that some of the younger faces at the club – who were in the Academy during his first spell at the Park – have really impressed him in training this week.
“There are only two or three lads that were here when I was here last – there has been a big change-around, but there are a lot of good young players here,” he continued.
“There were a few in the Academy when I was here like Grimesy, Jordan [Moore-Taylor] and Christy [Pym]. They are still young kids, but they are very good players.
“I trained with them a few times, but they have come on leaps and bounds during the two years that I have been gone.
“They were kids then, but they have grown into really good young men.”
And for all the happiness of returning, his goal now is to have an instant impact and to help City climb the table again.
A draw against Oxford keeps City in the relegation zone in the early weeks, and Noble is desperate to kick-start City’s season in the coming weeks – starting with away trips to Cambridge on Tuesday and Tranmere next Saturday.
“I’ve had a good week and it’s been nice to see some faces, but it’s time to win some games,” Noble said.
“We’ll be going into every game looking to take three points. Those two games will be no different away at Cambridge and Tranmere.
“We don’t want to spend the season fighting around at the bottom of the table. We want to get up there as soon as possible, and the quicker we can do that the better it will be for everyone.”