Matt Fry has stated his ambition to make his West Ham United debut after agreeing a new two-year contract with the club.
The highly-rated centre-back spent much of last season out on loan, starring for League One side Gillingham before enduring an injury-affected time at play-off challengers Charlton Athletic.
Now fully recovered from a knee problem that slowed his progress during the second half of the campaign, the 19-year-old is targeting a big 2010/11 season.
"It is obviously good for me to be offered a new contract of any length, but to get two years shows that the club has faith in me and it is going to spur me on to work even harder and go even further," said Fry.
"I am self-confident and without that I don't think I'd get very far as a professional footballer. I believe I have the qualities to become a first-team player at West Ham United. I am not saying that I'll be ready for the Premier League on the first day of next season, but if I am ready in a year or 18 months time, then I'll be pleased with my progress.
"I am still young for a centre-back and have a lot of developing still to do, both physically and in terms of improving my concentration on the pitch. In the Premier League, if you let your guard down for just a second or two, it can cost your team a goal.
"I believe I played comfortably at Gillingham and that led to a move to a team at the top of League One. This season, I would like to think that, if I'm made available, I can go out on loan to a club in the Championship. If I have to start in League One again after my injury, though, then I'm happy with that.
"My ultimate aim though, of course, is to play first-team football for West Ham."
Fry becomes the second young defender to agree a new deal with the Hammers, with 20-year-old Jordan Spence agreeing a one-year contract with the club earlier this week.
The pair join a host of other homegrown stars in the squad, including James Tomkins, Jack Collison, Mark Noble, Junior Stanislas, Freddie Sears and Zavon Hines.