Craig Dawson could not get a game for Watford in the Championship but is now a key figure for David Moyes and 'worthy' of a permanent deal as West Ham bid to reach the Champions League.
The 30-year-old centre-half, signed on loan from Vicarage Road to little fanfare in October, headed his fourth Hammers goal to wrap up a 2-0 Premier League win over Leeds.
Dawson, whose transfer is almost certain to be made permanent in the summer, also capped a man-of-the-match display by clearing a late goalbound deflection off Vladimir Coufal off the line.