No fears for England's Sears

He may be England's baby-faced assassin but don't expect striker Freddie Sears to start whimpering and moaning about their slow start to the UEFA European Under-19 Championship. England's point-less predicament in Group B requires a restorative result or two – beginning against Italy in Jablonec tonight – yet Sears is enjoying the experience too much to be downhearted.

'Impact'
His first international tournament, kicking off with Monday's 2-0 defeat by the Czech hosts, continues the dream sequence for the 18-year-old from Hornchurch in Essex. Sears scored six minutes into his Premier League debut for West Ham United FC in March, going on to make six more top-flight appearances for his boyhood team. "At the start of the season I broke my ankle, but I've come back stronger," he told uefa.com. "I've made an impact in the Premiership and I'm looking to make an impact at the European Championship. The experience of playing in front of a hostile crowd, in front of 6,000 Czechs, is good. It is intimidating playing in a different country, but you get on with it. It is different, international football – even the Under-19s."

Difficult position
Sears, who describes his strengths as "pace, finishing, beating players and dribbling", believes England can still reach the semi-finals by negotiating their remaining group matches against Italy and Greece. "Both games are going to be hard, because the three teams are in a difficult position having not won a game. Hopefully we'll get through. We can push on from the Czech game where there were a lot of unforced errors. I don't think we played that badly."

'Unreal'
The forward refers to his international debut against Belarus last summer as "unbelievable". It was a more publicised 'pinch me' moment – his winning goal against Blackburn – that heralded his arrival on the English scene. "I'm a West Ham fan and have watched them every week since I was a kid. Just to play at Upton Park was unbelievable ... unreal," he said. "After I scored, I was in every paper, and you keep seeing yourself. I was watching Match of the Day and it's good to see yourself – it's a kid's dream really. Most of my mates were at the game and they can't believe it either."

Enjoyment
His football education has suddenly gone into overdrive. "Over the four months since March, I have played eight games and every time you play you are learning, even if you are only on for ten minutes," Sears explained. "You are playing with better players, stronger players, which is better for you. Playing in the Premier League was a massive step up, but international football is slower, you can take your time. You know the Premier League is going to be quick, but coming to an international tournament you don't quite know what to expect. But the England coaches make you feel at home, they make you feel like it's your club. It's different from West Ham, but everywhere I go I enjoy my football."

Fan factor
One link with West Ham in Liberec is his room-mate, defender James Tomkins. Sears intends to be back in the first team at Upton Park "after Christmas – there's a few people in front of me so I'm just waiting for my chance again". The aim, for now, is to be a crowd-pleaser in the Czech Republic. "It is better to play at a stadium," he said. "At the start of the season I was playing at my training ground, then at the end it was Old Trafford. I think it helps you having the fans. Sometimes you just can't believe it."