Jarrod Bowen has already enjoyed a whirlwind few years but if all goes to plan he could be celebrating a truly unforgettable 2022.
The West Ham United forward is not only aiding the club's push for a top-four finish this season but is set to play a prominent role in their Europa League quarter-final against Lyon, the first leg of which is on Thursday at the London Stadium. Many people believe that it is only a matter of time before the 25-year-old earns an England call-up and no doubt Bowen will be hoping his fine form will allow him to force his way into the national squad for the World Cup in Qatar just seven months away.
An unfortunately-timed heel injury put paid to his chances of being part of the recent Three Lions squad for friendlies against Switzerland and Ivory Coast but last month Gareth Southgate acknowledged that Bowen, who has 13 goals in all competitions this term, is a player firmly on his radar.
"We never had to make a decision because we knew he was going to be out injured (for recent friendlies) but he's certainly done everything he can to put himself in the frame," said the England boss.
Bowen has come a long way in a short space of time. He started out at Hereford, cutting his teeth in the National League during troubled times for the club, which would eventually be wound up. He was transferred to Hull City in 2014 and over the course of six years in East Yorkshire he would make a handful of Premier League outings before posting double-figure goal returns in three successive Championship campaigns.
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That form didn't go unnoticed and it prompted the Hammers to fork out £20million for him in early 2020.
"He was class - it wasn't a coincidence that he was always in the right place at the right time," Matt Ingram, a former teammate of Bowen's at Hull, told Mirror Football .
"His scoring record for Hull was phenomenal, even his assists record too. He's just gone on leaps and bounds really and has showed himself to be a really, really good Premier League player. He's very direct and very good running at defenders with the ball. He can finish with both feet and I think he's proven that playing for West Ham. He only came back from injury the other day but scored (against Everton ) as he has been doing all season."
A snapshot of Bowen's impact is encapsulated by the fact the Tigers were pushing for the play-offs at the time of his sale, thanks to his 16-goal haul. They ended the season being relegated.
Ingram believes his old pal is well-placed for a timely run ahead of the winter extravaganza in Qatar. He added: "The World Cup is obviously coming up and I think it would be tough to keep Jarrod out of that squad. I know he missed out lately because of injury, but I definitely think he'll be knocking on the door for England come the World Cup."
Matt Ingram was talking as part of the EFL's Week of Action which takes place from April 4-8 with all 72 EFL Clubs and Club Community Organisations collectively coming together to showcase the crucial work they deliver in their communities. Ingram and Hull teammate Richard Smallwood helped local children clean boots from the training ground ready to be donated to participants as part of the Tigers' Trust initiative.. For more information click here.
