West Ham boss David Moyes is backing Jesse Lingard to lead them to Euro qualification.
Chances of a top four finish are now gone following Chelsea's win over Leicester last night, but European football next season remains very much on the table.
Lingard's goals have dried up across the past four games, but Moyes brought the 28-year-old to London for his mentality as much as his talent and is hoping the England international can continue to push the Hammers along over their final two games this season, starting tonight at West Brom.
Moyes said: “Jesse will be really important. I can tell he is driving and he wants us to be up at that level and competing. It will help him as well because he has made a great contribution since he came in January."
He continued: “It would be fitting for the players if we made it because I think they've deserved it with their efforts this year.
“But you've got to earn it. You've got to earn it over the whole course of the season. We've got two game to go and we've got a chance of earning some form of European football.
“We had opportunities in quite a few of these recent games and we've not taken them.
“It was only four or five weeks ago we were getting a three goal lead in a lot of games. We've got the capabilities so we want to get back to that if we can do."
