Jack Collision is delighted with the role of West Ham reserve-team captain.
"It's going really well," the 19 year-old told whufc.com. "I am trying to pick up as much as I can from training with the first team. Because they are all great players, I can learn so much from them. It is much more intense and the quality obviously is a lot higher, and you have to concentrate more and be sharper in everything you do.
Collison, a tall athletic midfielder with an explosive shot, is looking to make the most of his chance when asked to be involved with the first-team squad. He travelled with defender James Tomkins for the 2-1 Carling Cup win at Coventry City and was also named in the 19-man squad to face Bolton Wanderers in the Premier League at the weekend.
He added: "For me this season the aims are to be in and around the first team as much as I can and to make sure I put in the performances that will keep me in the manager's eye. I have to keep working as hard as I can, try to impress all the right people and see where that takes me. Then when my chance comes along, I am going to grab it with both hands."