West Ham vs Chelsea: John Terry is one of the 'top two' centre-backs of this generation, says Hammers skipper Mark Noble

The two captains will clash at Upton Park tonight

Mark Noble evades the challenge of Adnan Januzaj (GETTY IMAGES)

West Ham captain Mark Noble has hailed the man who will be leading out tonight's opponents at Upton Park.

Chelsea skipper John Terry led the Blues to the 13th major trophy of his career when Jose Mourinho's team beat another London rival, Tottenham, in the Capital One Cup on Sunday.

"He’s one of the top two centre-backs we’ve had in this country since I’ve been watching football," Noble told the Evening Standard. "He reads the game so well and you only have to look at the games played, games won and trophies won, to appreciate that he is up there with the very best."

John Terry won the 13th major honour of his career on Sunday (Getty Images)

Noble, who has spent his whole career at his boyhood club, said that Jose Mourinho had been the difference maker for the league leaders.

"For me, it is Jose Mourinho who makes that vital difference to them," added the 27-yearold. "The players give that extra 15 per cent for him. Everywhere he goes he wins trophies and seems to get the best out of his players."

The Blues will be hoping to continue their march towards a first Premier League title in five years in east London, at a ground where they have enjoyed great success in recent years.

Since Roman Abramovich took over in 2003, Chelsea have won six and drawn one of their eight matches, scoring 20 goals and conceding just seven. Stretching back to the Boxing Day defeat at Stamford Bridge, West Ham are in dreadful form, winning just two of their 14 matches in that time.

Noble, who has again been impressive for the Hammers this season, signed a new five-and-a-half deal last week to stay at the club.

"I think everyone knew, the way we started the season, we couldn’t maintain that sort of pace," said Noble. "Very rarely does a club creep into that top six that doesn’t really belong there.

"The League is sorting itself out now and the teams you expect to be up there — are there.

"We don’t want to drop down any lower than we are at the moment, though. We want to push on. All teams have a bad run but I don’t think that applies to us because in recent matches, we’ve drawn at home to Manchester United and away at Spurs — and both games we should have won.

"After [the defeat by Crystal Palace] Saturday, all you want to do is get back out on that pitch and make it right."