Three West Ham players with the most to prove before the season ends

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West Ham United’s English defender Ryan Fredericks appeals during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on February 19, 2020. (Photo by Lindsey Parnaby / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP via Getty Images) /

Ryan Fredericks has had a disrupted campaign this season due to injury, this has seen Pablo Zabaleta have to deputise in his place. At 35-years-old Zabaleta was a disaster waiting to happen when facing some of the Premier League fastest wingers.

Zabaleta’s struggles meant an opportunity for West Ham youngster Jeremy Ngakia. The 19-year-old quickly became a fan favourite and made the right-back position his own. Ngakia’s form started to make people think that Fredericks would not walk back into his spot once he returned to fitness.

Sadly, Ngakia is on his way out of the club as he has rejected a new deal at the club as his current contract is due to expire at the end of the month. West Ham manager David Moyes did surprisingly use Ngakia in a warm-up game against Crystal Palace, in which Ngakia scored. So there is still time for a dramatic u-turn on his contract.

For Fredericks however, he needs to use the uncertainty around Ngakia’s future to his benefit and prove to Moyes and West Ham fans that he deserves to be the starting right-back for the club for the rest of the season.

Fredericks has had plenty of time to get himself fit over the break and needs to show West Ham why he was signed in the first place. The 27-year-old is blessed with fantastic pace which could be crucial for the hectic run-in that looms ahead.

If Fredericks proves himself over the next nine Premier League games then it could quieten down rumours of West Ham’s interest in Nottingham Forest’s Matty Cash and River Plate’s Gonzalo Montiel.