West Ham’s table-topping start to the Premier League has thrust many of their players into the spotlight.
Michail Antonio and Said Benrahma have stolen the headlines but Jarrod Bowen has quietly impressed.
Gareth Southgate was among those keeping a close eye on the 24-year-old and was impressed enough to put him on standby for an England call up before naming his squad for next month’s World Cup qualifiers.
Bowen did not make the 25-man squad yesterday but Southgate is considering giving him his first international call up if his form continues.
The winger, signed by David Moyes from Championship side Hull in January 2020, may not have registered a goal or assist this season but he has been instrumental in West Ham winning their opening two games to claim top place in the table.
Eyebrows were raised when Liverpool were linked with Bowen over the summer but the fact he is now on Southgate’s radar is recognition of his quality.
After eight goals and five assists in the Premier League last season, Bowen wants to improve those numbers and his selfless work for the team and his quality on the ball have earned rave reviews.
In Monday’s thumping 4-1 of Leicester, Bowen completed two more key passes than anyone else on the pitch, topped the stats for crosses and “good” crosses and, on the defensive side, made more tackles than any of his team-mates.
In the 4-2 win at Newcastle on the opening weekend, with Southgate watching on, no West Ham player delivered more successful crosses. The unrelenting Bowen covered more than 10km across both matches.
He has proved an astute signing and his work ethic has been a fine example for Benrahma to work towards.
Moyes has long wanted to have more internationals in his squad. Declan Rice flies the claret and blue flag with
England, while Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal are key figures for the Czech Republic.
The swell in international players makes the club a more attractive prospect to potential new signings and is likely to have played a role in getting Kurt Zouma, who was yesterday named in the France squad, to agree to join from Chelsea.
If Bowen can keep up his good form, Moyes may have another England international in his midst before too long.
