Ian Wright believes West Ham United’s Jarrod Bowen will be in contention for England’s World Cup squad if he builds on his impressive display against Wolves.
The Hammers forward has endured a slow start to the season on the back of an incredible 2021/22 campaign in which the 25-year-old contributed to 31 goals in 51 matches in all competitions.
Bowen recorded 12 goals and 12 assists in the Premier League, stats which rightfully earned him his first call-up to the England squad ahead of four Nations League fixtures against Hungary (twice), Germany and Italy, with Bowen featuring in all four games.
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However, Bowen has struggled this season to make his case to be included in Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions squad for the World Cup in November. After failing to score or register an assist in the first seven Premier League games, Bowen was an unused substitute for the UEFA Nations League defeat against Italy in Milan and was not included in England’s matchday squad for the 3-3 draw versus Germany at Wembley.
However, Bowen responded to the disappointing international break with a man of the match performance against Wolves on Saturday. He played a part in Gianluca Scamacca’s first-half opener before firing a superb half-volley in the second half to ensure West Ham moved out of the Premier League’s relegation zone.
Arsenal legend Ian Wright believes Bowen is still in contention to feature in Qatar later this year, as long as the 25-year-old builds on his performance against Wolves. “He only missed six minutes of the league season up this point, no goals, no assists as well. But he is one of the players who works very hard,” Wright told BBC’s Match of the Day.
“He is a very strong runner, constantly trying to get forward, even without the ball making good runs off the ball. Always trying to get on to his left foot but he is not afraid, if he gets the opportunity, to go on his right foot because I think that’s what he can do.
“Great pass here [for Tomas Soucek], brilliant stuff. When he gets himself into a position in and around the no.10 area he can find a pass out. Again, he gets himself in space. This is what I’d like to maybe see him do, get this one and just go down the right-hand side and have the shot, but in the end it goes to [Gianluca] Scamacca and that gets a little deflection, but it’s a fantastic goal.”
On Bowen’s goal, Wright added: “For me, it’s a beautiful strike. Watches it down, half-volley, bam. Great stuff.
“Twelve goals last season and somebody who has got a little sniff in the England squad. He is going to have to keep doing stuff like this to kind of keep himself around it. I wish him the best to be honest.”
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