James Tomkins can be a future England star – West Ham United captain Matthew Upson

James Tomkins , West Ham United (Getty Images)

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West Ham United captain Matthew Upson believes that centre-half partner James Tomkins has the potential to be a future England star.

Upson has partnered Tomkins for the majority of this season and although the Hammers have conceded 49 league goals in what has been a poor campaign thus far, the club captain is confident that his team-mate has the ablity to be an play for his country.

“He has come on leaps and bounds this season,” Upson told reporters.

“I played a lot with him last season and he has the raw material to become a top player.

“If he keeps improving the way he is and mentally develops I think he’ll have a great chance of being an international.”

Tomkins, 21, did well to keep Luis Suarez quiet for the majority of the Hammers’ 3-1 victory over Liverpool on Sunday but faces stiff competition if he is to play international football.

At the other end of the pitch, striker Frederic Piquionne believes the victory against Liverpool has renewed the squad’s optimism, with the forward calling on his team-mates to keep up their high level of performance when they face Stoke City this weekend.

“We will take lots of confidence from the Liverpool win,” he told reporters.

“It was very good and we are pleased we played well and scored lots of goals. We need to keep this going. We are confident but we have to do the job against Stoke.”