It’s official: Jarrod Bowen will miss tonight’s Europa League quarter-final against Bayer Leverkusen.
While some rumours circulated yesterday suggesting Bowen would be fit, the Hammers’ manager has extinguished any such claims.
And to make matters worse, Moyes has alluded to a secondary knee injury in addition to the spinal bruising.
Moyes said, “Jarrod’s not with us. He’s got an injury and he’s not available to play tonight. We’re not sure about when he might return at the moment.”
“We think when he got the knee in his back he’s twisted and he’s probably damaged a bit of something, a bit like a fast bowler gets in cricket. It’s about the rotation, which is where we think the damage has come from.”
Bowen leaves the Molineux pitch and will now miss the Europa first leg
“Jarrod will always be a miss because he’s a boy who’s played a big part in memorable games for us, especially in the UEFA Europa Conference League final last year.”
“But, these things happen in football, and we have players ready to come in to try and get the job done for us.”
Moyes’ admission that ‘these things happen’ makes it all the more baffling why cover on the wing wasn’t brought in during the January transfer window.