West Ham United: Jarrod Bowen makes Erling Haaland admission ahead of Aston Villa showdown
West Ham United forward Jarrod Bowen has admitted that he is attempting to learn and emulate Erling Haaland and Ollie Watkins in his new position as a striker.
The 27-year-old has been in fine form for the Hammers this season, scoring 14 goals and laying on three assits in 27 appearances in the Premier League appearances to help David Moyes’ side climb up the Premier League table.
Injuries to Michail Antonio have meant Bowen has often been deployed as a centre-forward for the Hammers and the England international has admitted he has found the transition difficult at the London Stadium.
Speaking to Sky Sports News (17 March) he said: “Obviously it’s different, you’re almost learning a new position in the best league so of course it’s going to be difficult, you’re not just going to play there and be the best striker going.
“I’ve been watching some of the top strikers in the Premier League, Haaland, Ollie Watkins, things that they do. I think Haaland is a difficult one because he is probably the best goalscorer we’ve seen for a very, very long time, but there are different things you can learn.
“Every team has a different kind of structure to the way that they play but as a centre-forward, you see what they do, see where their goals come from.”
Will West Ham United and David Moyes sign a new striker in the summer transfer window?
It has been clear for some time that West Ham has been in need of a new number nine at the London Stadium, especially after they failed to replace Gianluca Scamacca in both the summer and January transfer windows.
The Italian was never prolific in claret and blue, but he was signed to give Moyes’ side a cutting edge in the final third that Antonio wasn’t able to produce consistently. 18 months on and that is still missing in East London.
Until the Irons sign a new number nine, they will have to continue to rely on Bowen’s goals and hope that the 27-year-old can continue to learn from the likes of Haaland and Watkins to further develop his game and impress as a number nine.
Hopefully, the England international will continue to produce performances like he did against Brentford and Freiburg. If he does, it could not only save Moyes’ job but help the Hammers book their place in Europe next season.
In other West Ham news, Chris Sutton has predicted the result of the Hammers’ Premier League showdown with Aston Villa
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