Edgar's Oxford aim

Anthony Edgar is hoping his two-goal show in the reserve victory over Crystal Palace will earn him a chance to shine in Avram Grant's first team.

The gifted 19-year-old winger has enjoyed a superb pre-season, scoring the winner at Peterborough United before joining Grant's squad at their training camp in Germany.

With the first-team manager watching from the stands at Thurrock FC's Ship Lane, the second-year professional provided an impressive showcase of his extensive all-round talents, scoring one fine individual goal before doubling his tally with a smart first-time finish.

Having done so well, the east London-born youngster is targeting a place in Grant's squad for next Tuesday's Carling Cup second-round meeting with League Two outfit Oxford United. It promises to be a bumper Boleyn night with tickets at just £5 for kids and £10 for adults.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE GOALS AND INTERVIEW ON WHUTV

"I think the game went really well," Edgar told WHUTV. "Up front in the final third we looked really sharp and with better decision-making we could have scored a few more goals and created a few more chances.

"I don't know if I've done enough but if I've done enough to be in his thoughts then great. Every day, I just wake up and have tunnel vision. I just go on the training pitch and try to show what I can do and try to express myself - that's all I can do.

"It would be nice, of course, but I've just got to keep working hard and if I'm in his thoughts then I'll play and show the crowd what I can do."

Edgar enjoyed a loan spell at League Two club AFC Bournemouth last season before making his first-team debut as a substitute in the FA Cup third-round defeat by Arsenal in January this year.

Having had a taste of the big time, the diminutive wideman is itching to be involved again at senior level. On Tuesday, he did his chances no harm whatsoever, scoring two impressive goals.

The first, which came just a minute after Palace had taken the lead, saw Edgar burst between three defenders before slotting a powerful low shot into the far corner.

The second, which proved to be the winner, saw the teenager calmly slot the ball into the net after Junior Stanislas had mis-kicked at Kieron Dyer's right-wing cross.

"I got the ball and I knew what I was going to do. I knew I was going to go straight through their defence and I knew when I was going to hit the ball. I hit it and thank God it went in.

"To be honest, I asked Junior if he really meant to leave the ball for me and he said he didn't, but I was alert to it and placed the ball into the corner where the goalkeeper couldn't get to it."

If he continues to do the same, then Anthony Edgar could be a name that West Ham United supporters are hearing a lot more of over the coming season.