Kevin Phillips eager to see West Ham star in from the start
West Ham United attacker Jarrod Bowen has yet to make a full start for the club since his big-money deadline day signing from Hull City last month.
The 23-year-old has made a couple of substitute appearances – against Manchester City and Liverpool – and calls have intensified for manager David Moyes to let him off the leash.
That’s entirely understandable given his phenomenal form for his former club over the first half of the season.
Saturday’s crunch clash with Southampton would appear to be the ideal opportunity for Moyes to throw him in at the deep end.
Former England international Kevin Phillips is eager for Bowen to get a proper chance in the starting XI.
“It is not going to be long before Moyes starts him in a gam,” he told Football Insider. “Saturday could be the one with [David] Antonio and [Robert] Snodgrass having had tough games against Manchester City and Liverpool.
“He could have scored [against Liverpool] and should have scored but perhaps delayed it a little bit.
“We have seen it already this season at Hull, he gets into goalscoring positions and West Ham certainly need players who can put the ball in the back of the net. I expect him to have more game time between now and the end of the season.”
Bowen’s surely starting against the Saints, isn’t he?
You’d be very surprised if he wasn’t, that’s for sure. Tomas Soucek is obviously out injured, but Pablo Fornals will likely replace him once again.
It will then be a decision for Moyes on whether he wants to change his system slightly, or perhaps just put Bowen in for Felipe Anderson in a straight swap.
The Hammers struggle to score from open play, and Anderson’s not been doing it this term, so Bowen would be an obvious replacement for the Brazilian.
That would allow Moyes to keep the in-form Snodgrass and Fornals, and the powerful Antonio, all in the starting line-up, as well.
In other West Ham news, former Premier League midfielder Michael Brown has been raving over a Hammers’ loanee.