West Ham United goalkeeper Marek Stech is pleased to be involved with the first team squad as Robert Green's understudy.

He told whufc.com: "[The 2-2 draw with] Newcastle was great. It was my first time on the bench. When I first came here I was nearly on the bench but it didn't happen. I was very pleased that Gianfranco Zola gave me a chance, even if I am so young. It was a great opportunity for me and I was so happy. It was a good experience to see the stadium and take part in the warm-up before the game. The atmosphere was special."

The Czech Under-19 international is one of a talented crop of academy youngsters coming through alongside his contemporaries James Tomkins, Jack Collison and Freddie Sears but has had to be more patient.

"Hopefully I will be on the bench again. If I am called, I will be ready. I have just played another reserve game. If something happened and I had to play I would be ready but Greeny is doing so well."