Keen pleased with youngsters

Kevin Keen has praised his young West Ham United players following Tuesday's 2-0 Barclays Premier Reserve League victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The former Hammers and Wolves winger took charge of the second-string for the fixture at Bishop's Stortford and was rewarded with first-half goals from Cristian Montano and Anthony Edgar.

While young professionals Montano and Edgar got their names on the score-sheet, scholars Dylan Tombides and Paul McCallum caught the eye with their intelligent and confident forward play.

Overall Keen was delighted with his team's performance, saying: "I thought we played extremely well in the first half and scored two really good goals.

"I'm pleased because the senior lads did well again and it was a good team performance. I'm very happy."

Young forwards Tombides and McCallum did impres, but, as an Academy product himself, Keen knows the pair have plenty more work to do before they can establish themselves in the first-team squad.

"Dylan did very well. We've got to keep his feet on the ground because he is a young lad and he is improving. The timing of his runs and his touch are good and he has a chance of coming through and becoming a West Ham star, but that's only if he keeps his feet on the ground.

"You've got to work hard in any business, not just football, to get to the top and I'm sure that Tony Carr and myself will be able to keep his feet on the ground. He has a long way to go and has two or three years to mature but his movement off the ball is very good.

"It was Paul's first game at this level. He's come from Dulwich Hamlet and looked good in the first half, when he and Dylan formed a partnership that looked quite promising."

At the back, centre-back and recent Bishop's Stortford loanee Callum McNaughton and goalkeeper Marek Stech also drew praise from Keen, who was pleased with the reserves' first clean sheet in five matches.

"I thought Callum McNaughton also had the best game I've ever seen him have. I thought he was probably our best player.

"I've got a lot of time for Marek. I think he's a fantastic goalkeeper who could be the No1 at this football club. I think he's a really good player and he made some things that other 'keepers would find difficult look very, very easy."

The reserves return to action next Tuesday evening, when Arsenal are the visitors to Woodside Park. Kick-off is at 7pm, with admission costing £3 for adults and £2 for concessions and free for Boleyn Ground season ticket holders. Parking is free.