Marek Stech is to get valuable first-team experience after being loaned to League Two high-fliers Wycombe Wanderers.
The Czech youth international goalkeeper has been recruited until the end of the season by Peter Taylor's side, who sit second in the table. Stech could make his debut in Saturday's crucial match with table-toppers Brentford at Griffin Park, when the visitors will be hoping to close the seven-point gap between the two sides.
The 19-year-old has put in some eye-catching displays for the reserves this season, most recently the tremendous 1-0 away win at Arsenal on Monday night. He has also been named as a substitute in four first-team matches. Stech joined West Ham United from Sparta Prague in July 2006 and his progress is such that he was rewarded with a five-year contract last July.
Meanwhile, youth-team goalkeeper Adam Street, 17, was unable to help Canada reach the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Mens Under-20 Championship in Trinidad and Tobago after a 2-1 defeat by Costa Rica on Tuesday night meant they finished third in Group B. It means Canada will also miss out on the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Eygpt this September.