Hammers legend picks five stars of the future (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Hammers legend picks five stars of the future

12:14pm Sunday 5th July 2009 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(0)

WEST HAM academy director Tony Carr has backed five of the club's graduates to stamp their mark on the first-team in weeks to come.

Hammers' Under 18 captain Matt Fry, defender Tony Brookes, midfielder Olly Lee, forward Anthony Edgar and Northern Ireland winger Daniel Kearns have all been rewarded with professional contracts after catching the eye of Carr, and he is confident they can go on to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Rio Ferdinand, Joe Cole and Frank Lampard.

“These contracts are a reward for their efforts in the academy,” Carr told the club's official website. “All five of them have made great improvements during their time with me and the coaches and have fully justified the deals they have signed.

“I spoke with Gianfranco and his coaching staff top discuss these players from the academy that I believed should be rewarded and Matt, Tony, Olly, Daniel and Anthony all have what it takes.

“It's now up to them to show the first team coaching staff what they can do and prove themselves all over again.”