A hugely-promising centre-back, James Tomkins became a regular member of the West Ham United first team during the 2009/10 season, making more than 25 appearances.

The ball-playing defender has been with the club since the age of seven and has long been considered one of English football's finest prospects.

That promise has been recognised at international level, with Tomkins graduating to England's Under-21 side and appearing at the 2009 and 2011 UEFA European U21 Championships.

2011/12

Named the SBOBET Player of the Month for August 2011, having scored his first goal of the season in the 4-0 win at Watford on 16 August...Signed a new long-term contract until summer 2016 on Saturday 21 January 2012.

2010/11

Began the season in the first XI but lost his place following the opening-day 3-0 Barclays Premier League defeat at Aston Villa…Made three Barclays Premier Reserve League starts before regaining his place for the 3-1 home Barclays Premier League win over Wigan Athletic on 27 November 2010…Scored his only goal of the season in a 3-1 home Barclays Premier League defeat by Manchester City on 11 December 2010…Made his 50^th league appearance for West Ham United in the 1-0 home Barclays Premier League victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on 1 January 2011…Started all six Carling Cup ties as West Ham United reached the semi-finals…Totalled 28 first-team appearances in all competitions, scoring once...Booked three times, including once in the Carling Cup semi-final second leg at Birmingham City. Went to the 2011 UEFA U21 EURO after being called up late to the squad.

2009/10

Began the season on the substitutes' bench before replacing the departed James Collins in the starting XI for the 1-0 Premier League defeat at Wigan Athletic on 12 September 2009…Started 22 Premier League fixtures and made 23 appearances in total…Started both Carling Cup and one FA Cup fixtures…Made a career-high total of 26 appearances in all competitions, ending season with 47 in total for the club…Did not receive a single yellow card.

2008/09

Ruled out of opening three months of the season with a knee ligament injury suffered at the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship finals…Returned to action in a 2-0 Barclays Premier Reserve League South victory over Portsmouth on 25 November 2009…Loaned to Derby County on 27 November 2009 until the end of the year…Made seven Championship and one League Cup appearances for Derby County, helping the Rams to defeat Premier League Stoke City to reach the League Cup semi-finals…Returned to West Ham United and made first appearance of the season in the 3-0 home FA Cup third-round win over Barnsley…Scored his first goal for the Hammers in the 2-0 home Premier League win over Sunderland on 4 April 2009…Sent off for first time in his West Ham United career in the 3-1 Premier League defeat at Everton on 16 May 2009…Totalled 12 Premier League and three FA Cup appearances for the Hammers…Booked once and sent off once.

2007/08

Became a full professional in July 2007…Made his West Ham United debut in 1-1 Premier League draw at Everton on 22 March 2008, hitting the crossbar with an early header…Totalled six Premier League appearances, starting five times…Did not receive a single yellow card.

International career

Capped for England at U16, U17, U18, U19, U20 and U21 levels…Made his U16 debut against Cote D'Ivoire at the Montaigu Tournament in France on 7 April 2004, making the last of his four appearances against the same opposition at the same competition on 28 March 2005… Played 13 times for U17s…Made one U18 appearance in defeat by France on 21 September 2006…Totalled eight U19 appearances between November 2007 and July 2008…Made one U20 appearance against Italy at Loftus Road on 31 March 2008…Made U21 debut in a 7-0 friendly victory over Azerbaijan at Milton Keynes on 8 June 2009…Made two appearances at the UEFA European U21 Championship in Sweden, helping England to reach the final...Recalled to the England U21 squad for the first time in 14 months for the 4-0 friendly victory in Denmark and the 2-1 home friendly defeat by Iceland in March 2011.

Before West Ham United

Spotted by West Ham United while playing for Holy Cross FC at the age of seven…Initially joined the club as a striker before becoming a winger and, finally, a centre-back.

Any other business

None.