Junior Stanislas scored a hat-trick to underline his burgeoning potential in a 4-2 behind-closed doors reserves friendly win against Chelsea on Friday.
The England Under-19 winger had played against the Chelsea first team in two FA Cup matches during a loan spell at Southend United back in January and had another game to remember against the Blues, this time at their Cobham training centre. He was watched by manager Gianfranco Zola and assistant Steve Clarke, with the match giving welcome fitness to those players not away on international duty.
Stanislas helped the visiting Hammers fight their way back into the contest in the second half after Franco Di Santo had put Chelsea in front just before half-time. As the away side took hold after the interval, there was plenty of promising play from the 19-year-old Stanislas, who was already on a high having made his first-team debut in the 0-0 draw with West Bromwich Albion on 16 March.
He struck twice more - after his outstanding solo effort to equalise - with winger Anthony Edgar, another graduate from Tony Carr's Under-18 set-up, adding the other to give Alex Dyer's side a welcome win. The hosts' Ricardo Quaresma, who was joined by fellow Chelsea first-teamers Hilario, Alex and Florent Malouda, rounded out the scoring. The West Ham side included Kieron Dyer, who got an extended run-out.
Meanwhile, Freddie Sears and James Tomkins will join up with the England Under-20 squad this weekend ahead of the friendly international against Italy to be played at Loftus Road on Tuesday. Mark Noble, meanwhile, was left out of the England Under-21 party that played a Euro 2009 warm-up in Norway on Friday but could feature in the visit of France in another U21 friendly to be played in Nottingham on Tuesday.