Nouble ready to play

Frank Nouble is aiming to catch the eye of manager Avram Grant after enjoying a productive summer for both club and country.

The striker, who turns 19 later this month, helped England to reach the final of the UEFA European Under-19 Championship in July before returning to regular reserve-team action with West Ham United.

On Tuesday, Nouble - who was a schoolboy in Chelsea's Academy during Grant's single season in charge at Stamford Bridge in 2007/08 - scored the winner in a friendly victory at Leicester City, serving further indication of his potential.

Having made his Hammers first-team debut and spent time on loan at both West Bromwich Albion and Swindon Town last season, the powerful youngster is looking to continue his improvement in 2010/11.

"We're waiting for the season to start, really. We've had a friendly game every week, which has been good. Alex Dyer has done well to get us games like that, and we've responded well. We've got another game next week, so we'll have to be ready for that.

"We've brought in three or four players in my position and we've also got a new manager, so it's just a case of starting again, really.

"Maybe I'll go out on loan again. I think I've acquitted myself well over the summer, going away with England and doing well. Since I've come back, I've done all right, so now it's a case of continuing to do well whether I go out on loan or stick around and get a place in the squad now and then. It's just about playing, really."

Looking back at the European U19 Championship, Nouble is proud of his achievement in helping England to reach the final, where they were beaten by Spain. The teenager scored twice in their opening group-stage win over Austria and was an ever-present starter for Noel Blake's side.

"It was good to play under pressure. With the senior boys not doing well at the World Cup, there was extra pressure on us to do well, but football is football and we all just tried to go out and enjoy it. I was happy I did well and we did well and had a good run to the final."