Tomas Soucek importance to West Ham needs to be spoken about - How he can reach cult hero status

Tomas Soucek is once again leading the way as a shining light for West Ham in what has been a pretty dark season so far.

The Hammers midfielder has popped up with crucial goals at the London Stadium this campaign, and keeps proving to be an example on the pitch for other players.

The Czech Republic international has had his critics this season, and though he can frustrate supporters at times, he continues to come up trumps when the Irons need him most.

When Nuno Espirito Santo joined the club, it was interesting to see if Soucek would still play an important part, and so far, he certainly has, despite being in and out of starting lineups.

West Ham are in the relegation zone with nine Premier League games left to play, and the 31-year-old is showing that he can stop the Hammers from dropping to the Championship.

Will Tomas Soucek be a West Ham cult hero if survival happens?

Nuno is trying to keep West Ham up, and the Irons are just one point from climbing out of the relegation zone after months of fighting to turn things around at the London Stadium.

It's not going to be easy, especially given their recent setback with star player Crysencio Summerville, but it's in moments like these when heroes can set up.

• Soucek has started 15 league games for West Ham this season
• He has an average Sofascore rating of 6.62

Soucek already played a crucial role in West Ham's Europa Conference League triumph under David Moyes, but some supporters would still argue that he's not at cult hero status just yet.

However, if he continues to do what he is doing for Nuno and helps keep West Ham up, there may be no more denying him from being a true E20 cult hero anymore.

The 6,4" star isn't the most flash and skilful player that the Hammers have ever had, but he certainly gives his all, and that's all fans can ask for in troubled waters.

What will West Ham do with Soucek this summer?

Soucek broke the Premier League record for most goals scored by a player from Czech Republic last month, taking his tally past Patrik Berger's previous record of 38.

The veteran midfielder has since added another to his ever-growing tally, popping up with a goal at Anfield when the Hammers lost 5-2 to Liverpool.

Soucek is tied down to the London Stadium until June of 2027, but this summer could prove West Ham's last chance to gain a fee from his sale, before his contract expires.

However, it all depends on where the Hammers are financially and where they stand in a couple of months, as Nuno may very well want to keep him around.

The former Slavia Prague star will do everything he can to keep the Irons where they belong in the next couple of months, and then could be set for important talks with the club.

You never know, by then he may want to end his West Ham career on a high, if he can cement himself as a cult hero through helping the Hammers avoid relegation