West Ham United boss Alan Curbishley was happy to give more minutes to James Tomkins in their defeat to Sunderland.

Tomkins celebrated his 19th birthday at the Stadium of Light and the manager was pleased with his contribution off the bench, claiming "we know we've got a player there". He also told whufc.com: "I'm in a fortunate position where they can learn without it being so vital. Freddie Sears, if he hadn't been injured, might have got a game as well so we'll have a look at that in the next six games."