Marek Stech is set for another first-team taste this weekend as understudy for the ever-impressive Robert Green on the West Ham United bench against Fulham.
The 18-year-old shot-stopper was in imperious form for the reserves on Tuesday night keeping a clean sheet in the draw with Aston Villa. That capped a great week that began with his maiden experience of being a senior substitute against Newcastle United with Jan Lastuvka out with a minor knee injury. His Czech compatriot will not return to training until next week, giving Stech another taste of the spotlight.
"[The 2-2 draw with] Newcastle was great. It was my first time on the bench. When I first came here I was nearly on the bench but it didn't happen. I was very pleased that Gianfranco Zola gave me a chance, even if I am so young. It was a great opportunity for me and I was so happy. It was a good experience to see the stadium and take part in the warm-up before the game. The atmosphere was special."
The Czech Under-19 international is one of a talented crop of academy youngsters coming through alongside his contemporaries James Tomkins, Jack Collison and Freddie Sears but has had to be more patient. "Hopefully I will be on the bench again. If I am called, I will be ready. I have just played another reserve game. If something happened and I had to play I would be ready but Greeny is doing so well."
While Stech knows he will have to bide his time for his West Ham United breakthrough, he is confident it will come sooner or later. "It will mean everything. It will be a big chance for me and I have to take it. If you play well you get more chances. It was a good game on Tuesday but I have keep focused and do that every game. I will just have to try to do my best and hopefully everything will go OK."