By Rob Pritchard BASILDON'S James Tomkins made a successful comeback from injury as West Ham United's reserves swept past Portsmouth last night.

The 19-year-old defender has been out of action since straining a calf muscle while on England duty at the UEFA European Under-19 Championship in the Czech Republic in July.

But it looked like the impressive youngster had never been away as he produced a composed display during the Irons' 2-0 Barclays Premier Reserve League South win over Pompey at the Boleyn Ground.

The only blot on his evening came when he received a nasty bang to his right knee courtesy of England striker David Nugent.

But, following treatment, the former Chalvedon School pupil was able to complete the full 90 minutes.

An experienced West Ham were full value for their victory in front of just a handful of supporters on a freezing evening in East London.

The Hammers' goals, scored by David Di Michele and Kyel Reid, came before half-time.

Both were memorable strikes.

Di Michele's opener, on 14 minutes, came just 60 seconds after he had blazed a far easier chance to break the deadlock way over the crossbar.

Second time round, the Italian made no mistake, firing a superb left-foot shot high into the net after Freddie Sears had cleverly dummied Diego Tristan's low cross.

The on-loan Torino forward went close twice more before Reid lashed home the Irons' second on 31 minutes, latching on to the loose ball after Luis Boa Morte's corner had only been partially cleared.

The visitors, who offered little threat before the break, came into the game after half-time but Jan Lastuvka denied both Pablo Navas and Nugent.

For Alex Dyer's men Tristan - returning after three weeks out with a bruised foot – Boa Morte, Sears and substitute Junior Stanislas all saw goalbound efforts blocked.

West Ham United Reserves: Lastuvka, O'Neill, Lopez, Tomkins, Davenport, Stokes, Boa Morte (Harvey 88), Reid, Di Michele, Sears, Tristan (Stanislas 82).