West Ham: Crescencio Summerville is key to the Hammers’ survival in the Premier League

It was Crescencio Summerville West HamSavior again.

The 25-year-old came off the bench to score the goal that beat Burton after the Hammers were given an FA Cup scare.

His 95th-minute goal was the sixth goal in seven matches as the visitors needed extra time to beat their hosts in League One.

It was the same in the third round as West Ham edged out QPR in extra time after Somerville had given them the lead.

Since then, the goals that helped beat Tottenham, Sunderland and Burnley have breathed new life into the Hammers’ bid to stay in the Premier League.

“We know it will be difficult to come here,” the striker told TNT. “We dug deep and they put pressure on us.” “For me, when I come I try to help the team and today was the day, so I’m happy.

“These games are open and one-on-one I just tried to get inside, which is what I do best. I’m in a good space recently. After my injury, I’m happy to be back on the field and trying to show that week in and week out.”

In his final season at Leeds, Somerville scored 21 goals, as Daniel Farke’s side lost to Southampton in the Championship play-off final.

It persuaded West Ham to spend £25m in August 2024 but his first season was ruined by injury.

Summerville scored just once in 22 matches before being sidelined for seven months after surgery with a serious hamstring problem.

It has been a slow process for him to find consistency and form, as he has failed to score in his first 16 games of the season.

But the Netherlands Under-21 international is now a consistent match-winner for West Ham as he eyes a World Cup place with his country this summer.

Teammate Konstantinos Mavropanos told BBC Radio 5 Live: “We knew when we made him the player he is, now he is at his best, he just has to keep progressing.”

“All the players have seen in the last two weeks that we are improving and we want to do more than in the first half of the season.

“We’re all just trying to help each other and we do the same with Cry. We see what his qualities are and we try to get everything from this.”