WEST HAM defender James Tomkins insists he has been swept away by the ‘breath of fresh air’ that Gianfranco Zola and Steve Clarke have brought to the club.

The 20-year-old academy graduate, who scored his first goal for the club in last week’s win over Sunderland, has received plenty of one-on-one tutoring from ex-defender Clarke, while Zola has shown commendable faith in him by persisting with the youngster at the heart of the defence.

Tomkins has turned plenty of heads with his commanding authority and composure at the back since he stepped in for the crocked James Collins in February.

And he could receive no more glowing an endorsement from his manager than to be paired alongside Matthew Upson on Saturday, despite the return to fitness of Welsh international Collins.

“I feel that I’m playing well at the moment, I’m growing in confidence with every game,” insisted Tomkins. “It’s a big boost for me to start in front of James, he’s been playing very well all season.

“I’ve been getting a good run in the team and I’m full of confidence, I just want to keep it going.”

The defender revealed that he has been feeding off the wealth of experience that surrounds him on the pitch.

“Players like Lucas Neill and Matty Upson have a lot of experience and I’m learning a lot from playing with them, as well as the good players we have at the club,” he added.

The appointment of former Chelsea player and coach Clarke has been the real bonus for Tomkins, however, while he has also been impressed with the brand of football the new coaching axis have helped create.

“If I wanted to ask about an area of my game that I was looking to improve then Clarkey’s brilliant for it really, because he’s a player that’s played in my position and has bags of experience,” said Tomkins.

“But the gaffer gives us lots of confidence. He’s got everybody playing and playing nice football, which is what the fans want to see.

“He’s changed things round and the two of them have been like a breath of fresh air for us.”

It was a player in high spirits that rose above former Hammer Anton Ferdinand to head home at the weekend – a moment Tomkins insists he will never forget.

“It was brilliant and something that you always dream about as a kid. I’m never going to forget it,” he beamed.

“I’ve been here since I was eight years old and it’s great to score.

“(Hearing the crowd cheer) is a feeling you can’t describe, it’s such a buzz.”