Liam Noble ordered back to Newcastle after picking up five-match ban

Noble’s challenge on Darnell Furlong during the game against Cambridge United last weekend earned him a straight red card. It was his third dismissal of the season and Noble has now been suspended for five games by the FA.

The latest booking was Noble’s sixth red card in two seasons, and Cooper has sent the 24-year-old away until he is ready to deal with him.

Speaking of the tackle, Cooper said: “I thought it was disgraceful.

“As much as I like him as a player and as a lad, I can’t condone that.

“That’s probably symptomatic of the problems that have gone on this season.

“It’s not the first time it’s happened and there have been too many incidents.

“I spoke to him after the game and I told him not to come back.

“I will ring him when I want to speak to him.

“He is not training with us. I sent him back to Newcastle. He’s now got some time off and I will deal with him when I want to.”

Despite being the club’s second top scorer, Noble is out of contract in the summer so his future is hanging in the balance.

Cambridge and Portsmouth have both shown interest in him, as well as a number of League One clubs.

But his ban means he will miss the first three games of next season and Cooper says any club that wants him would have to take that into consideration.

“He has a five-game ban now which means he misses the first three games of next season,” said Cooper.

“If somebody is interested in him, that will probably be weighing on their minds.

“People keep telling me he is going to change, but I think if you calculate the games he has missed, you have to decide whether it’s value for money or not.”