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.

"If you let things slip, you certainly know about it straight away. But equally, the boys are also very encouraging and quick to praise you when you have worked hard and put in the effort and this can only be helpful to me and my game."

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."