TNT Sports pundit Joe Cole has identified West Ham pair Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville as the two players who are crucial to the Hammers’ survival hopes.

Summerville has been excellent recently, and Cole says his former club can avoid relegation if the Dutchman can take some of the burden off Bowen and maintain his form:

“He’s a confident lad. I think I said a couple of weeks ago, if he performs to the top of his capability with Bowen, West Ham are back in the relegation fight, and they can survive.”

Summerville has found the back of the net 6 times in his last 7 games, including the winner in the FA Cup against Burton Albion on Saturday.

The 2 forwards have been West Ham’s top marksmen

Bowen has scored 8 times and provided 4 assists in all competitions so far this season. Summerville, meanwhile, has 6 goals and 4 assists.

Between them, the pair (who both cost £25m to sign) have nearly 65% of West Ham’s goal contributions. Without their production in the final third of the pitch, the Irons would likely be dead and buried already. As it is, they are in touching distance of Nottingham Forest, as well as Tottenham and Leeds.

Bowen and Summerville can’t carry the weight alone

While Cole is correct that Nuno’s team are heavily reliant on two players, it doesn’t mean others can’t step up to the plate. Mateus Fernandes may not have as many goals or assists as his two teammates, but his performances are aiding the club’s fight against relegation.

Taty Castellanos’s arrival from Lazio will hopefully pay dividends over the coming months too. The Argentinian international has scored twice in his first 8 appearances, but fans will be hoping for more from him as he settles into life in England.

Pablo could have been another source of goals, but unfortunately, it seems the 22-year-old could be sidelined for several weeks.

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