Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson is set to gain valuable first-team football with a one-month loan deal at Cheltenham Town.
The Icelandic Under-21 international, who may be on duty next week for his country in 2011 UEFA European U21 Championship qualfying action at home against San Marino and Northern Ireland, is due to join up with Martin Allen's side on Friday and could feature in their weekend League Two home game with Notts Country.
The 19-year-old will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of midfielder Josh Payne, who spent three months on loan with the Robins last season before coming back to the Boleyn Ground and making two appearances in Gianfranco Zola's first team.
Eyjolfsson joined West Ham United on a permanent basis from HK Kopavogur on 4 July 2008 after a trial. After beginning that season in Tony Carr's Under-18 side, Eyjolfsson progressed to make ten reserve appearances last term.
At international level, Eyjolfsson has been capped at U16 and U17 level and was singled out by UEFA as a player to watch for the future at the UEFA European U17 Championship in Belgium in 2007. He then made his U21 debut in November 2007.
Eyjolfsson had already been on a high after spending time training with the West Ham United first team last week.
Speaking to WHUTV after the reserve game with Portsmouth, he said: "I trained with the first team three times last week. It went well and I'm hoping to train again with them and see where it takes me.
"It's fun to try yourself against people like Carlton Cole. Obviously the experienced Premiership defenders have been struggling against him so it is good to see how you fare against him. I did alright I think!"