James Tomkins turns 19 with Saturday's trip to Sunderland and is ready to complete a major week in his football life with another run-out for West Ham United.
The homegrown defender made his first-team debut in the 1-1 draw at Everton last weekend as the club finished with four homegrown players on the pitch in the form of Anton Ferdinand, Mark Noble and Freddie Sears. It was a development that manager Alan Curbishley said has "given everybody a lift". Tomkins then followed that up with two goals for England Under-19s in a 3-1 midweek victory against Russia and there is every chance he could keep his West Ham United place for the forthcoming trip to the Stadium of Light.
As a player, Curbishley also came through the ranks along with assistant Mervyn Day and reserve-team coach Kevin Keen and there is an understanding within the coaching staff of what the Academy means to supporters. The manager said: "The biggest selling shirt at the club is Mark Noble and, after signing the four or five big hitters in the summer, it tells you that the West Ham fans have an affinity to homegrown players. On Saturday, we ended up with four in the eleven that finished which was nice for everybody."
Curbishley revealed Tomkins had a "little inkling" that he would play at Goodison Park and that "he had no nerves at all". The manager added: "We never told Tomkins until an hour and a quarter before the game he was playing on Saturday. I didn't want him to be thinking about it too much. What pleased me most about it was he had a little bit of a shaky start with the goal but got stronger as the game went on."
When the final whistle blew at Goodison Park last Saturday, West Ham United had six players on the pitch that were aged 24 or under and Curbishley is clear that across the board "if they are good enough they are going to get a game". Although the search for young players extends far and wide, he recognises there is something extra with Tomkins and Sears and how they connect with those watching on in the stands. "They are genuine West Ham fans and the club is what they are about ... you know they want to do well and they lap every minute up."
With the likes of Jack Collison, Junior Stanislas and Kyel Reid, who has just been loaned to Championship promotion hopefuls Crystal Palace, waiting in the wings, there would look to be plenty of others ready to stake a claim. The manager added: "West Ham have always had a sprinkling of homegrown talent. There has perhaps been a lull in recent years and hopefully we are on our way back because it is vitally important for everybody."