West Ham United moved a step closer to securing their Premier League status for another season as they ended a run of five straight defeats by beating Swansea City 1-0 at the London Stadium on Saturday.

Cheikhou Kouyate’s strike proved to be the difference between the two teams in the capital and moved the Irons eight points clear of the 18th-placed Swans, with just six fixtures of the campaign remaining.

Hammers supporters would have been concerned that they were on the verge of being sucked into the relegation battle, but now they have some breathing space it could mean that Slaven Bilic has a chance to try out some of his fringe players during the run-in.

After such a disappointing season there could be a number of changes to the first team squad during the summer, but there are still some that will want to prove that they can have a future at the London Stadium.

Here are FOUR Hammers outcasts that must get an opportunity in the final six games…

Ashley Fletcher

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The 21-year-old striker joined the Irons from Manchester United last summer following an impressive loan spell in League One with Barnsley last term, and he would have had high hopes that he could challenge for a spot in the Hammers first team.

Things haven’t quite worked out for the attacker though, who has scored just the one goal in 17 appearances this term.

However, with some of the pressure being taken off of the side following their win against Swansea, he needs to be given more minutes to impress in the run-in.

Jonathan Calleri

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West Ham signed the forward on a season-long loan deal from Deportivo Maldonado last summer, but similarly to another loanee, Simone Zaza – whose switch was terminated during the January transfer window – he has struggled to make an impression at the London Stadium, scoring one goal.

While manager Slaven Bilic may already be close to making a decision on whether he will look to sign the 23-year-old permanently at the end of the campaign, he must be given an opportunity to impress over the course of their final six fixtures, as he was as a substitute in the win against Swansea.

Edimilson Fernandes

When the Irons signed the midfielder last summer, he was likely brought into the club as a squad player that could push for opportunities in the first team.

While that has been the case – he has made 26 appearances in all competitions for the Hammers this term – most of his outings have come off of the substitutes’ bench, and Slaven Bilic may want to see if he has the potential to be a starter for the side next season during the run-in.

Havard Nordtveit

Having been a regular for previous club Borussia Monchengladbach, the Norway international would have perhaps believed that he would be when he joined the Hammers too.

However, it hasn’t quite worked out like that for the versatile 26-year-old in what has been a difficult season for Slaven Bilic and the club, and he has made just 17 appearances in all competitions.

The Croatian boss will perhaps be tempted to give the midfielder a more consistent run in the side in the final six fixtures, to see if the Norwegian has a long-term future at the London Stadium.

Do you agree, Hammers fans? Let us know below.

https://video.footballfancast.com/video-2015/slaven-bilic.mp4