The Hammers were officially relegated after last Sunday's 3-2 loss at Wigan which saw manager Avram Grant sacked.

Caretaker boss Kevin Keen will take charge of the team against Sunderland on Sunday and according to the Daily Mail he's set to give 17-year-old Tombides his first taste of Premier League action with a place on the bench.

The left-sided teenager, who won the club's academy Player of the Year award, has worked closely with Keen, who had been in charge of the Hammers reserves side prior to Grant's dismissal.

In February, Keen told whufc.com he felt Tombides could become a future 'West Ham star'.

"We've got to keep his feet on the ground because he is a young lad and he is improving," Keen said.

"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."