Ollie Scarles wants to follow in the footsteps of the West Ham‘s current longest serving player.

The latest Academy of Football graduate, who is in the midst of his breakthrough season on the senior stage, has spoken of the support he’s received as he continues to develop into a key player in Graham Potters side.

“Everyone’s been really helpful after moving into the [first-team] squad,” Scarles told the clubs Official Website. “I think it helps having such a senior player in Aaron Cresswell behind me as the left centre-back, and he talks me through the game all the time.

“Having a player like that, who’s played 300 Premier League games, you can’t ask for much more, really.”

Scarles also wants to emulate what Cresswell has achieved at West Ham, with the veteran now in his 11th year in east London, having joined from Ipswich Town back in 2014.

“You see what he has done for the Club and you want to be the next one to achieve that,” added Scarles. “He’s the example, and he’s someone you look up to. That’s what I’m working towards, and hopefully I can follow in his footsteps.”