The consistent performances and determination shown by West Ham United striker Javier Hernandez have probably not received the full credit it actually deserves.

And, while the club is currently enjoying a good run of form with much more solid showings than at previous stages this season, it might be a good time to state that Hernandez might be little underrated.

West Ham's current successes have been down to a number of positive factors which have finally given the Hammers fans some reason to optimistic about what manager Manuel Pellegrini can achieve in the future.

But, that success can largely be narrowed down to what Hernandez has brought to the team since joining the east London club in 2017.

On Saturday evening, the Mexican led the line of attack for West Ham in their 2-0 win over Newcastle United at the London Stadium.

The all-round team performance on the night might not have been that great but Hernandez was playing on a different level than his teammates.

His commitment in the match was unprecedented, putting his body on the line and throwing himself at every opportunity to get to the ball or reach a cross or long ball.

It was quite surprising to see him being substituted in the 70th minute by the manager, given that he was one of the club's best hopes of finding another goal, but in the moment ot probably made sense because he was replaced by a player like Marko Arnautovic, able to carry the game in a much more physical way.

It is also quite clear that Hernandez is a player who has been at the summit of the Premier League and have reached the ultimate success their is, winning the league title twice during his spell at Manchester United.

For West Ham, he should be a player that drives the team forward in the coming seasons and be at the heart of the goals the club sets out to achieve.