Source: Eurosport
New Deals For Young Hammers
West Ham youngsters Mark Noble and James Tomkins have committed their futures to the east London club until 2013.[LNB]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.[LNB]"It's fantastic that the club have shown their belief in me," said academy graduate Noble, a key figure for England Under-21s.[LNB]"The new manager (Gianfranco Zola) has come in, and some of the football at times has been unbelievable. I think people have noticed that.[LNB]"I'm just delighted to have signed and hope we can push on and try to get that European place."[LNB]Tomkins turned 20 only last month and scored his first senior goal in last Saturday's 2-0 victory over Sunderland.[LNB]"It's really great to have signed for this great club, so I'm just delighted to get it all sorted," he told www.whufc.co.uk.[LNB]"I've come in at a time when we're pushing for a European place and I'm really enjoying my football.[LNB]"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."[LNB]West Ham chief executive Scott Duxbury claims the new deals show the club's commitment to blooding homegrown talents.[LNB]"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.[LNB]"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."[LNB]
