JAMES Tomkins has vowed to knuckle down and follow hot shot Freddie Sears into the West Ham first team.

Tomkins (pictured) was told just 90 minutes before kick off that he would be included in the squad and admits that it left him "buzzing".

Although he is did not leave the bench, the 19-year-old defender - who was also an unused substitute at Arsenal on New Year's Day - was happy to be given a taste of being in and around the first team again.

"I got on the bench again, which is good - it's good for my experience," he said.

"Obviously I want to get on, even if it's just for a few seconds, but we won the game and that's the main thing.

"Now I'm going to keep working hard in training and see where it gets me."

Tomkins added that he was delighted to see 18-year-old team mate Sears make such a stunning impact on his first appearance against Blackburn on Saturday.

The prolific striker took just six minutes to mark his name in West Ham history with the winning goal.

And Tomkins said: "We won the game and Freddie's got on and scored which was brilliant. I'm pleased for the lad.

"It's good to see players come through and do well. He's doing really well."