BASILDON youngster James Tomkins has been rewarded for his stunning rise into the West Ham first team with a new and improved contract.

The Hammers moved to secure the former Chalvedon School pupil's long-term future after Tomkins, 19, burst on to the Premier League scene at Everton in March.

Since replacing the injured Matthew Upson, the central defender has impressed in three subsequent appearances against Sunderland, Derby and Newcastle.

And Tomkins, who has also been called into the England Under-19 squad for their European Championship final qualifying round fixtures in Belarus later this month, was delighted to put pen to paper.

"I have signed a contract extension to my existing deal," he told whufc.com "It is obviously good that West Ham had come to me and offered me one.

"It is really great news and it has been a good end to the season for me.

"I have got the contract and that gives me confidence going into the games.

"It shows what West Ham think of me."

Tomkins, who has won praise from manager Alan Curbishley in recent weeks, is expected to make his fourth start in a Hammers shirt at Manchester United tomorrow, where he will have the pleasure of marking Wayne Rooney and former Iron Carlos Tevez.

And the teenager, who has kept tabs on Kenwyne Jones, Yakubu, Mark Viduka, Obafemi Martins and Michael Owen in his short career, admitted he is relishing the challenge of facing the world's best forwards.

"I am learning with every game and I am just enjoying it at the moment," he added.

"Playing against these sorts of players, week-in week-out is brilliant for me. I am learning from it and enjoying it."

Matthew Upson (calf), Anton Ferdinand (hamstring) and Freddie Ljungberg (rib) are all out injured, while Julien Faubert (hamstring) is racing to be fit for Old Trafford.

West Ham: (from) Green, Walker, Panstil, McCartney, Neill, Tomkins, Mullins, Noble, Parker, Collison, Solano, Faubert, Boa Morte, Zamora, Ashton, Sears, Cole.