David Moyes sets Jarrod Bowen goal at West Ham United that will catch Gareth Southgate’s eye
Jarrod Bowen ended his goal drought at West Ham on Saturday afternoon, and David Moyes believes more of the same will secure him an England spot.
Bowen put on a much-improved display against Wolves and ended with a goal and an assist after not registering either all season.
It comes off the back of Bowen spending time away with the England squad after Gareth Southgate selected him due to his superb form last season.
With his hopes set on making England’s World Cup squad in November, Moyes has told the Hammers star exactly what he has to do to make sure he’s on the plane.
“Definitely. I told him the minute he walked back through the door. You get us four or five goals between now and the World Cup and you will be banging on the door as you were before, and he is more than capable,” Moyes said after full-time, as quoted by Football London.
“I always say to them go away and look at the best players, see what they’re like, train with them, get the levels and know the levels you have to train and play at. I always want the players coming back feeling they’ve been enhanced by training with good players.
“Jarrod came back really positive about being with England. I said to him get yourself five or six goals between now and the World Cup you’ll be right back at that level and you’ll be picked.”
Catalyst
Moyes will hope that Bowen’s superb display against the Saints is the start of an upturn of form.
The 25-year-old reached double digits for both goals and assists last season, but he’s hugely struggled to replicate that standard this time around.
He’s not been helped by a constantly changing West Ham front line, with Moyes trying to figure out how to implement the likes of Gianluca Scamaca and Lucas Paqueta into his side.
But mostly, Bowen has just looked off the pace at the start of this season.
However, he looked much more like his former self on Saturday, driving forward with the ball and linking up with teammates to find space and carve chances.
His weaving run set up Scamacca’s wonder strike, and he brilliantly took his chance after the break to put the game to bed.
Despite not featuring in either of England’s games over the break, Moyes is right – Bowen has come back with renewed confidence.
While Southgate’s decision to call up Bowen was questionable, it’s done the winger a world of good and it might just be the catalyst behind him finding some form.