West Ham manager Alan Curbishley has held up James Tomkins and Freddie Sears as examples of everything that is good about the game.The two England Under-19 internationals, both east Londoners, have broken into the Hammers' first team over the last fortnight after graduating from the famed Upton Park academy.

Sears scored on his debut against Blackburn and both players hit the woodwork in last weekend's 1-1 draw at Champions League-chasing Everton.

West Ham finished that game with four home-grown players on the field, with Sears and Tomkins joined by Mark Noble and Anton Ferdinand.

And Curbishley believes the youngsters can be inspirational to the next generation of fans and potential West Ham recruits.

He expained: "When Freddie came on last week to join James a lot of our fans were thinking: 'I wish that was me. I'd love to be playing for West Ham'.

"What happens when you get these young boys around you is that they take it with enthusiasm and a smile and want to do well and lap every minute up.

"Freddie has given everyone a lift with his enthusiasm.

"We only told Tomkins an hour before the game that he was playing. What pleased me most about it was that he had a shaky start with the goal and then got stronger as the game went on."

The Basildon-born defender then went on to score twice for the England Under-19s in midweek and he could retain his place at the heart of West Ham's defence for Saturday's trip to Sunderland.

Curbishley came through the ranks at Upton Park himself and is determined West Ham do not break with their traditions despite plans to "beef up" the academy.

Gianluca Nani joins in the summer as the club's new technical director and, as Arsene Wenger does with Arsenal, he will scour the world for the best young players to bring to West Ham's academy.

Nani has built a multi-national academy at Italian Serie B side Brescia but Curbishley vowed West Ham will always retain a home-grown core.

"We want to make sure we can compete on all levels. Gianluca has the knowledge and the network which I am sure will improve our situation," said Curbishley.

"But the English talent cannot be ignored and that is one of the major routes we are going down.

"Sears and Tomkins are genuine West Ham fans. The club is what they are about.

"You cannot forget the affinity home-grown English or British players have with the fans.

"West Ham have always had a sprinkling of home-grown talent. There's perhaps been a little lull in recent years but hopefully we're on our way back."

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