Micah Richards sets West Ham star Jarrod Bowen England challenge
West Ham winger Jarrod Bowen has been challenged to become a full-time England player and not settle for just a call-up by Micah Richards, writing in the Daily Mail.
The Hammers star has been the stand-out English attacker in the Premier League this season, with eight goals and eight assists so far seeing him tipped for an England call-up later this month.
But Richards, who has been an avid supporter of the ex-Hull winger, believes Bowen shouldn’t settle for just a call-up and should look to push on and become a regular in the squad and has backed him to achieve that.
“Regular readers will know I’m a big a fan of Jarrod Bowen and I’m looking forward to seeing him face Liverpool on Saturday,” he said.
“I tipped the West Ham forward to win a place in England’s World Cup squad and I’ll be surprised if he does not feature in the friendlies against Switzerland and the Ivory Coast this month.
“Bowen, who Liverpool considered signing when he was at Hull, is fearless and this stage will suit him.
“If he gets a call-up from Gareth Southgate, the challenge is to stay in the squad. It’s one thing getting England recognition. It’s another thing to become a full-time England player – but Bowen can do it.”
Glowing star
Bowen has found himself in the spotlight a lot this season as someone that David Moyes has looked to rely on more and more, and he’s responded emphatically.
With more goals and assists combined than anyone not named Mohamed Salah in the Premier League this season, he has more than earned his plaudits and it would be a big shock to see him not in the England squad.
Gareth Southgate has discussed the wide options available to him and it’s been made clear that it would be tough for Bowen to break into that group, but his performances cannot be ignored.
If he can continue to score and assist at a good rate, then he will force his way into the reckoning in the same way that Jack Grealish did ahead of Euro 2020.
With the World Cup around the corner, the next six months of football for Bowen are super important but he has Richards’ backing to make a spot on the national team his own.
In other West Ham news, Declan Rice sends West Ham ‘urgent’ Champions League warning ahead of summer