Cohen In Position

CHRIS Cohen has been a victim of his own versatility this season.

The 18-year-old Academy star, who made seven first-team appearances during his breakthrough season of 2003/04, has progressed to make 11 first-team outings this term.

But his impact at senior level has been somewhat restricted this season, with Chris instead forming the backbone of Kevin Keen's Reserve side, playing in a variety of positions along the way.

In 21 Reserve team appearances - the Hammers highest this season - Chris played centre-midfield, left-midfield, left-back and even centre-half.

But his aim for next season will be to master one of those positions and impress Alan Pardew enough to give him his chance in the Premier League.

"It was a good season for me in the Reserves," he said, "although obviously I'd much rather be talking about my first-team appearances at the end of the season.

"I played in quite a few positions for the Reserves and next season my aim will be to knuckle down and master one of them enough to progress back into the first-team reckoning.

"Centre-midfield is my favourite position and that's where I can hopefully play in the future. I accept that I've got to work on my mobility with the ball, but I like getting on the ball and trying to play passes around, that's really the way I play in midfield.

"But I know that my mobility lets me down in midfield, and that's why I went back to left-back and centre-half. I do take a little while to get going, but that's something I'm working on over the summer and hopefully I can improve it and get my chance at the start of next season."

Chris was handed the Reserve team captaincy by Kevin Keen towards the end of the season and presided over an unbeaten run of nine games. The added responsibility of being captain in a side where at just 18 he represented one of the more experienced contingent certainly helped Chris' development.

"It made a huge difference to me when Kevin Keen made me captain," he said, "and it was fantastic to know Kevin had that faith in me. For most of the time we had a really young Reserve team, and in only my second year I was one of the more experienced players.

"I was unbeaten as captain as well, and during the games when I was skipper we had a really settled side with all the lads pulling together.

"Our performances in the Reserves proved that there are some really promising young players coming through the ranks at West Ham United. The young players, even the likes of James Tomkins who was still a schoolboy last season, have all been getting their chance in the Reserves and that can only be good for their development.

"Also, playing against the likes of Chelsea, who had some really top players in their Reserve team, was a tremendous experience. It was a great achievement for the lads to finish the season unbeaten, because it gave us belief that we can cope at that level even though we were a young team."

But despite the success and obvious enjoyment Chris has found captaining the Reserve team this season, his aim for next term is to reinstate himself in the thinking of Alan Pardew, as Hammers look to make an impact in the Premier League.

"Playing at the top level is what every player aims for," he agreed. "At the moment, I know the areas of my game that I need to improve and if I can do that then hopefully I can force my way back into the first-team.

"I'd like it to be in centre-midfield, but to get my chance with West Ham in the Premier League I really would play anywhere.

"It was a fantastic achievement by the lads in Cardiff. Now hopefully I can have a good pre-season and get myself involved for the start of the Premiership season.

"It's always been my dream to play in the Premier League and with some hard work hopefully I can achieve that over the next few months."