FIVE players who could influence West Ham’s European push

From the start of the 2014/2015 season to December, West Ham were overjoyed on how well they were doing.

They even hit third place in October, and many were touting them for a definite spot in Europe next season.

However, the Hammers have had a 2015 to forget so far, winning just one of their last 11 games in all competitions and, as a result, have slipped to 10th.

With 10 games for the Upton Park side to regain their impressive form, and for manager Sam Allardyce to virtually save his job, here are FIVE current players that can turn the east Londoners’ fortunes around…

Click on Big Sam to reveal

Alex Song

30th August 2014. Some West Ham fans will mainly remember this date for their side getting comfortably beaten 3-1 at home to high flying Southampton. However, the afternoon was not all bad as it was the unveiling of Alex Song in a Claret and Blue shirt.

Signing on-loan from Spanish giants Barcelona, Song was a revelation for the first four months of his stint at Upton Park. He was virtually unplayable. However, ever since retiring from international duty with Cameroon at the start of January, Song has not been the same player.

If he can rekindle the form and performances he showed in the early days of his loan spell, then the centre midfielder can be the key for the European push the Hammers are craving considering he has vast amount of experience at the very highest level.

Adrian

Despite West Ham’s disappointing 13th placed finish last season, and a long battle against the drop, the Hammers still managed to keep an impressive 14 clean sheets.

Now that Allardyce’s men have different ambitions at the opposite end of the table, they’ve still only managed to keep six clean sheets so far, conceding a plethora of last minute goals. Both games against Tottenham Hotpsur and at home against Manchester Unites springs to mind immediately.

You could say that the lack of clean sheets is down to the defensive line because Adrian has been in fine form otherwise.

However, if the fans favourite can maintain the high level of performances he is giving, then the European dream could still be alive.

Stewart Downing

Like Song, Downing’s performances and impact has dipped at the turn of the year. However, his huge improvement from last season saw him earn an England recall in November for the friendly against the ‘Auld Enemy’ Scotland.

Beating his goal tally by four already, Downing has also notched eight assists; no English player has made more. His new role in the central position behind the striker realy has shown what Liverpool missed out on.

Downing has played at England’s top flight for an incredible 14 years and knows exactly what it takes for a side struggling for form to find their feet again.

Cheikhou Kouyate

The £6m summer signing from Anderlecht, who has been dubbed ‘the new Patrick Vieira’ in the past, has given nothing less than 100% since arriving from Belgium in July.

After returning from the African Cup of Nations with Senegal, Kouyate has been nothing short of exceptional, which is unusual, considering that when players come back from long international duty their club, form takes time to recover. Kouyate wasted no time by scoring on his first start since arriving from the AFCON in the 1-1 draw against Manchester United.

His fitness and stamina levels are exceptional, and if the powerhouse can maintain his performances, which has resulted in him scooping the West Ham player of the month for February, then West Ham in the Europa League next season will become more realistic.

Enner Valencia

After an impressive 2014 World Cup in Brazil with his native Ecuador, Enner Valencia has brought something different that West Ham have been missing for years up front, pace and hard work.

However, Valencia has only managed to score four goals in all competitions for the Hammers. For someone that is loved by the fans, cost £12m and puts in a good shift, the Ecuadorian should be more prolific like his strike partner Diafra Sakho.

Valencia did look bright in West Ham’s last three games, and is showing signs of scoring more goals. If his shooting boots come to life, then he can surely boost West Ham’s chances of Europa League football next season.