By CandH’s top blogger Allen Cummings

“Bowen’s on fire…” is the chant ringing out from West Ham fans wherever they go right now – the rest of the song isn’t for repeating on a family forum – but the message is there for all to see and hear.

Jarrod Bowen is arguably the hottest property in the Premier League right now. Five goals in his last five games, eight goals for the season so far, with a further eight assists to his credit – is there any wonder we’re all singing his name?

With Michail Antonio suffering a desperate barren spell in front of goal, it’s fallen to Bowen to keep the ‘goals for’ column ticking over and how well he’s taken to that task.

Now we’re all looking forward to Jarrod’s run continuing in Saturday’s early kick-off against Newcastle United at the London Stadium, although the usual pessimists in our camp seem more concerned with the likes of Allan Saint-Maximin and our old nemesis Chris Wood – now leading the line for the Magpies.

Both need due respect of course, but I’d wager Eddie Howe and his team will be even more concerned with the threat Jarrod poses to them – and rightly so.

Ironically, if things had worked out differently, Jarrod could well have been playing in black and white stripes not claret and blue on Saturday. Former Newcastle boss Steve Bruce signed Bowen for previous club Hull City in July 2014, before his move to take charge of the Geordies.

When Bowen became available in January 2020 Bruce was said to be interested in taking him to St James – but there were concerns whether the Tigers would do business with their former manager after his acrimonious departure.

In the event Bruce’s possible interest, and that of Crystal Palace, counted for nothing when the Hammers came calling. The rest, as they say, is history.

Newcastle did the double over us last season – a lost six points which in the event cost us dear. Our comprehensive 4-2 victory at St James on the opening day of the season went some way to extracting revenge.

Interestingly Bowen didn’t get among the goals that day – but who would bet against him putting that right on Saturday, halting the Magpies’ recent recovery run and continuing our push for that coveted top four finish.