Ray Parlour shares West Ham fear after Jarrod Bowen injury update
West Ham United will feel the effects of missing Jarrod Bowen for a “big chunk” of this season, according to Ray Parlour.
The Hammers lost Bowen to add insult to the injury of losing 5-0 at home to Liverpool last time out (29 December), with this weekend lining up a trip to Manchester City.
Talismanic captain Bowen will miss a sustained period on the sidelines with a foot issue, making Julen Lopetegui’s task even more arduous for the coming weeks.
“Bowen’s obviously injured and he’s the main man up front, the goalscorer,” Parlour told co-host Alan Brazil live on talkSPORT Breakfast (3 January, 08:54).
“They have good players other than him, but Bowen is their most important player. I don’t know how long he’ll be out for but they’re saying about six or seven weeks. That’s a big chunk.”
West Ham squad have chance to shine and must do so
West Ham United have suffered the rain this season, and having lost Bowen it now pours harder on their attempts to salvage their campaign.
Lopetegui’s appointment may not have been met with overwhelming excitement – far from it in fact – but the lure of the season came with the summer of spending which had been unprecedented in the club’s history.
The Irons spent well into nine figures under Tim Steidten’s recruitment mission, but fans have watched on as some big-money arrivals have underperformed and Lopetegui has made some baffling tactical calls.
Now is the time for certain summer signings to step up to the plate in Bowen’s absence, Crysencio Summerville and Niclas Fullkrug the obvious duo. But Lopetegui has to provide them the platform, the consistent game time and the confidence to succeed.
Despite Man City’s recent form, Hammers fans will remain apprehensive heading north this weekend and will not want anywhere close to a repeat of the Liverpool clash.
In other West Ham news, the Irons are believed to have been offered a star wanted by Aston Villa.
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