Duo pen new deals

West Ham United are pleased to confirm that young professionals Callum Driver and Eoin Wearen have signed new one-year contracts.

Full-back Driver and centre-back Wearen (pictured) have both continued their education this season after coming through the Academy of Football and penning their first professional deals a year ago.

Driver and Wearen have both been out on loan at npower League Two clubs - Burton Albion and Dagenham and Redbridge respectively - while the pair have also featured regularly in Ian Hendon's Development Squad.

The duo, both 19, are considered to be bright prospects and will form part of Hendon's squad which flies out to Hong Kong for the HKFC Citibank International Soccer Sevens this weekend.

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Callum Driver in action for the Development Squad

Driver, who joined West Ham at the age of 12, made 24 Development Squad appearances this season. He joined in Burton in January 2012, scoring one goal in eight league appearances.

He said: "Overall it's been a good season. I've got experience and got out on loan which was the target at the start. The highlights have been my first league goal and my league debut at Burton, which is something every footballer looks forward to.

"I just keep my head down and keep working - that's the way it has to be done. You've got to have desire and commitment if you want to be a footballer. I want to get out on loan again next season and get to a bigger club and get more experience and keep building my career.

"I've worked this whole year to get another contract, so to think the Club believes in me and sees that I have got more development in me is nice.

"Our full-backs are great players - George McCartney has played in the Premier League and Guy Demel has played in Germany as well, so I'd like to follow in their footsteps. Hopefully I can emulate them in the next few years."

Republic of Ireland Under-19 international Wearen joined the club at the age of 16 after moving to London from his native Dublin. This season, he has made 23 Development Squad appearances, scoring three goals.

Wearen also played four games on loan at Dagenham and Redbridge in January, helping the Daggers to gain a creditable 0-0 FA Cup with Budweiser third-round draw with Championship side Millwall.

"I've worked hard for this contract this season so now I can enjoy my summer. It was a gamble to change to a position I had never played in before (centre-back) halfway through the season, but it has obviously been a good thing because I have developed and improved as the season has gone on.

"Playing the FA Cup was nice. I made my home and away debuts against Millwall, which not many players do. A lot of good players have been released this year, so I know I am one of the lucky ones who have been kept on. I'd like to think I have earned this contract.

"I think it has been decided that the way forward for me and how I will progress at this club is as a defender. I'm only 19, so this extra year will give me more time and I feel I can continue to improve a lot again. If I keep my performance level up, hopefully I can get into the gaffer's plans."