Source: Eurosport
Hammers starlets pen new deals
West Ham youngsters Mark Noble and James Tomkins have committed their futures to the east London club until 2013.
Midfielder Noble - the Hammers' longest-serving player despite being just 21 years old - and defender Tomkins, who is a year younger, join the likes of Scott Parker, Jack Collison, Carlton Cole and Dean Ashton in signing up for the long term at Upton Park.
"It's fantastic that the club have shown their belief in me," said academy graduate Noble, a key figure for England Under-21s.
"The new manager (Gianfranco Zola) has come in, and some of the football at times has been unbelievable. I think people have noticed that.
"I'm just delighted to have signed and hope we can push on and try to get that European place."Tomkins turned 20 only last month and scored his first senior goal in last Saturday's 2-0 victory over Sunderland.
"It's really great to have signed for this great club, so I'm just delighted to get it all sorted," he told the club's official website.
"I've come in at a time when we're pushing for a European place and I'm really enjoying my football.
"I feel I'm getting better with each game; I have become more mature, and going on loan (to Derby) did me a lot of good."West Ham chief executive Scott Duxbury claims the new deals show the club's commitment to blooding homegrown talents.
"I am obviously very pleased we have been able to agree long-term contracts with two important members of Gianfranco Zola's squad," he said.
"We have a clear strategy in place to continue the development of the club in the years to come, and integral to this is securing the future of our young players."
