Anton Ferdinand and Jack Collison know better than most how pre-season tours can provide academy players with a path into first team football.

It was the summer of 2003 when Ferdinand was given his chance to impress during a West Ham training camp in Sweden – and his efforts led to a professional debut on the opening day of the season.

For Collison, it was a late call up to a pre-season tour of North America in 2008 which saw him play alongside Scott Parker that kick-started his rise to the first team.

Collison is now based in the United States, where he has been coaching for the last five years, but spent two years overseeing West Ham’s U16 side.

The 35-year-old coached several of the youngsters currently out in the States but there is one player in particular Collison has fond memories of – 19-year-old George Earthy, who scored his first senior goal in the final home game of last season.

‘It was like watching a mini Mark Noble,’ Collison tells Mail Sport.

‘His character, he was always a real cheeky kid, always enthusiastic, loved training and on a matchday was just so competitive.

‘It’s hard to tell at that age but there’s always that hope that they’re going to go on and fulfill their potential.

‘It was a really good group and we knew it was a fun group to watch but to see their progress over the last couple of years has been incredible.

‘Pre-season is such a big time for these kids, with a new manger coming in it’s a really good opportunity to make a good impression.’

Like Collison, Ferdinand knows a lot about the young hopefuls coming through and centre back Kaelan Casey is one player the 39-year-old was keen to talk about.

‘Me being a defender, I’ve got really high hopes for him,’ Ferdinand says. ‘I think he’s a fantastic talent. Somebody who likes to defend 1v1, deceptively quick, someone who has got a great worth ethic and someone who is willing to learn.

‘I see a lot of myself in him in terms of his willingness to learn and his appetite for the club. I think that could take him a long way. He needs opportunities, needs chances, but I have no doubt that if any of these boys get opportunities, they’ll take it with both hands.’

Earth and Casey came on as second half substitutes during West Ham’s 3-1 defeat by Wolves, while Freddie Potts and Gideon Kodua also got game time.

‘This is where I got my opportunity, on a pre-season tour in Sweden,’ Ferdinand says. ‘As a young player, you’re chomping at the bit, you’re training hard, you want to show the manager that you’re ready, you’re good enough.

‘It’s a clean slate for everyone, not just the young players but every player. One thing is this manager does like young players. You see that in the seven or eight players that have come out here. They’re involved in training sessions, they’re not here to make the numbers up. They’re being treated like first team players, watching it from the sidelines I think it’s very refreshing.’

Ferdinand and Collison were speaking to Mail Sport from a special coaching session the pair delivered to local club Jacksonville Armada FC.

The duo also shared their experience and wisdom with U19 and U17 squad members who hope to follow them into the professional game.

‘You get so much pride watching young players,’ Collison says. ‘Even if you’ve had a small interaction with them, going on and progressing and make their mark in the professional game.’

‘Giving your life experiences to young players who are trying to emulate what you’ve done at the football club I think is invaluable,’ Ferdinand adds

‘This is why I do what I do in terms of the mentorship and being more involved with the academy.’

West Ham will play Crystal Palace in their final fixture of this pre-season tour on Saturday and the nine academy hopefuls will be desperate for a chance to prove they are good enough to make the step up to the first team.