Noble and Tomkins sign

West Ham United are delighted to confirm that Mark Noble and James Tomkins have both pledged their future to the club.

The homegrown Hammers have signed deals that take them up to summer 2013, joining the likes of Herita Ilunga, Scott Parker, Jack Collison, Freddie Sears, Carlton Cole and Dean Ashton on long-term contracts at the Boleyn Ground. Noble and Tomkins have emerged through the club's highly-regarded Academy and have established themselves as key men in Gianfranco Zola's first-team plans.

Ahead of a major weekend meeting with Tottenham Hotspur that could consolidate the club's hold on seventh place, Noble said: "It's fantastic that the club have shown their belief in me. We're trying to go forward and push on and we're in a great position at the minute. We've got an important game on Saturday against Spurs and we've got to keep the run going. It's been a great season and we've been doing well.

"The new manager has come in and some of the football at times has been unbelievable and I think people have noticed that. I'm just delighted to have signed and hopefully we can push on and try to get that European place."

Tomkins said: "It's really great to have signed for this great club so I'm just delighted to get it all sorted. I've come in at a time when we're pushing for a European place and I'm really enjoying my football. I feel I'm getting better with each game, I have become more mature and going on loan did me a lot of good."

Noble, 21, is the longest-serving player at the club - having made his debut back in August 2004 and has just passed 100 appearances. After loan spells at Hull City and Ipswich Town, he established himself in the second half of the 2006/07 season - playing a vital part in keeping the club in the top flight.

With five goals from 27 appearances in all competitions this campaign, Noble is on track for his best season yet and has the UEFA European Under-21 Championship in Sweden to look forward to this summer. He has been capped 15 times at that level and is a mainstay of Stuart Pearce's squad, having already represented England at the 2007 finals.

Tomkins turned 20 on 29 March and has grown in stature in recent weeks, being a major part of the team's run of four clean sheets in five matches. He made his debut just over a year ago and then had a productive loan spell at Derby County earlier this season. Having represented England Under-20s earlier this month, he then scored his first senior goal for the club in last Saturday's 2-0 defeat of Sunderland.

West Ham United CEO Scott Duxbury said: "I am obviously very pleased we have been able to agree long-term contracts with two important members of Gianfranco Zola's squad.

"We have a clear strategy in place to continue the development of the club in the years to come and integral to this is securing the future of our young players. It is good to see that Mark and James believe in what we are trying to achieve at West Ham United and are excited about the direction in which we are heading."