Johnson Making Progress

Young Hammers defender Glen Johnson feels he is making good progress this season for both club and country - but knows he will have to be patient.

The 17-year-old centre-half performed impressively for England's under-19 side in their 3-1 wins over Georgia and Hungary last week and has also been a regular fixture in West Ham United's reserve team recently.

He says: "I am playing up a year above me for England but it is good fun and I am coping with it fine.

"The opposition weren't the best but no international is going to be easy.

"Things are going well for me and hopefully I will be picked regularly for the reserves this season; I am enjoying it.

"But if someone came in for a loan I would think about it."

He has regular chats with Glenn Roeder about his progress and adds: "He says keep going the way I am going and I might get in the first team next year."

He adds that he admires fellow defender Tomas Repka and says: "Tomas is a good player, but different from me, and I can learn from all of the defenders at the club."