However much he needs a summer break, Jarrod Bowen will be desperate to be part of Thomas Tuchel’s England squad getting on the ‘plane for the summer World Cup. West Ham’s captain and talisman – and soon to be record Premier League goal scorer (we hope) has been an ever-present in the side, barring a month out with his broken foot, following David Moyes’ decision to bring the young winger from Hull City in 2020.
West Ham fans can see it, I suspect Bowen himself knows it, but he’s cream crackered. Leading the West Ham attack, holding an often fragmented dressing room together during the upheaval of four different managers within the last two years – whilst trying to impress two successive England supremos – is enough to wear anybody down.
Bowen reigns unchallenged at West Ham, of course, but faces the mammoth challenge of trying to keep his club in the Premier League: Whilst Crysencio Summerville has been absent, Bowen has been the Irons’ sole goal threat.
Jarrod Bowen has faced huge challenges keeping the dressing room together as the Hammers have burned through four managers inside two years
England selection is not so simple: Perennial second choice behind Bukayo Saka, he also has to see off the challenges of Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke, Phil Foden and wide players Harvey Barnes and Anthony Gordon: All of which leaves his position at best a substitute but at worst- fast approaching thirty years old – out in the cold ahead of the World Cup finals.
Which would be a massive disappointment for the most likeable Hammer in the squad and West Ham’s all action hero. However, the silver lining to that cloud would be the guy would at least get a decent, thoroughly deserved break.
Whether he makes it into Tuchel’s Tuesday match day squad for the Japan friendly may well tell us what the summer has in store for West Ham’s talismanic skipper.
England v Japan, Tuesday 7.45pm
He is not, as you say, “cream crackered”. World Cup selection is dominating his thoughts and he is trying too hard to impress. His decision making is skewed leading to too many ill conceived solo runs and the like, which is only leading him down blind alleys and eventual lost possession.
It is exactly what happened last time and the very thing that Jarrod said he had learnt from and would not let happen again!