Callum Wilson holds the key to West Ham United's survival fight, he proved why yet again vs Everton

Callum Wilson stepped up to score a vital stoppage-time winner to help West Ham United beat Everton 2-1 on Saturday afternoon.

Tomas Soucek had powered the Hammers in front with a bullet header shortly after half-time, but Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's late equaliser for the visitors looked set to deal a huge blow to the hosts' fight for survival.

However, Wilson was on hand to lash home a loose ball inside the Everton box in the second minute of added time to breathe new life into the East Londoners' hopes of beating the drop.

The former Newcastle man showed his clinical finishing yet again to net his sixth Premier League goal of the season, and few could prove to be more important come the end of the campaign.

West Ham's victory over Everton leaves them two points clear of Tottenham Hotspur in the final relegation spot, but they still have plenty of work to do to ensure they survive.

Callum Wilson has unprecedented ability for West Ham

Wilson's persistent injury problems have arguably prevented his career from reaching the heights that it once threatened to during his stints with Newcastle and Bournemouth.

At 34, Nuno Espirito Santo must be hugely careful as to how he uses him at the moment, to ensure that he doesn't break down at a crucial stage of the campaign.

The Portuguese boss has typically used the veteran frontman in an impact role from the bench in recent weeks, and that could be perfect for him to have a telling effect on his team in the coming weeks.

Wilson's finishing ability is unprecedented at the London Stadium, as Nuno doesn't really have anybody else with such a natural goalscoring instinct who could lead the line.

Wilson showed his credentials yet again on Saturday, as he needed only two touches of the ball during his cameo to win the game for his team.

He boasts the strongest goals per 90 record of any player in the Hammers' squad, while also having a strong conversion rate and with that in mind, he surely holds the key to them beating the drop in a few weeks' time.

West Ham are not a side that are creating endless opportunities at the moment, so when a chance does come their way, they need it to go in, and Wilson can be the man to provide that for them.

Wilson new contract already looks like a sensible move for West Ham

Former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness told Football Insider back in March that Wilson had repaired his relationship with Nuno to agree a new deal to extend his stay at the London Stadium.

The frontman will now remain at the capital club for next season, and that already appears to be a positive move from the West Ham hierarchy.

Wilson's fitness is undoubtedly not where it once was, but he still has plenty left in the tank to be an effective impact player again next term, regardless of which league the Irons end up in.

His future at West Ham had looked bleak at the start of 2026, but he now looks set to still have a role to play for them next term.