West Ham United: Michail Antonio admits ‘unbelievable’ Jarrod Bowen isn’t enjoying where he’s playing
Jarrod Bowen isn’t currently enjoying playing as a forward in the West Ham side, according to Michail Antonio.
Speaking on the BBC’s Footballer’s Football Podcast on Tuesday (5 December), the 33-year-old said he believes the England international has the “ability” to play in that position because he has an “unbelievable finish” in his locker.
But the Jamaican forward added that he doesn’t think the 26-year-old is enjoying playing as a striker at this moment in time because he “doesn’t get as much of the ball” as he does out on the wing.
“Honestly, I think he’s got the ability to do it,” said Antonio. “I think he’s got the qualities of a striker. He’s strong, he’s good on the ball, can come in deep, collect it. Another thing you said, he scores goals.
“I think that he’ll probably end up there because, obviously, his quality and nous to always be in the right position, know where to be in the box. And he’s got an unbelievable finish about him. So I do feel like he could become a striker.
“I don’t think he enjoys it right now. He doesn’t get as much of the ball as he did out wide. And when you’re playing centre forward, you’ve got two centre-halves constantly at your back. Whereas when you’re on the wide, you can drift into places and be unseen.”
Unnatural
It isn’t actually too much of a surprise to hear Antonio say that Bowen isn’t enjoying playing up front at the moment because it does look pretty unnatural to him.
There is also a part of the Jamaican that won’t want his teammate to progress as a striker just yet because that presents more competition for his place in the side.
But there is no doubt that Bowen is much better as a winger after he has emerged as one of the best players in that position in the Premier League in recent years.
David Moyes has been forced to play him as a forward more recently, though, given Antonio’s lack of form and recent injury, alongside the lack of other options up top.
Whether or not the Englishman will eventually become a striker is anyone’s guess, but he is currently far more effective on the wing and should be playing there for a while yet.
In other West Ham news, one Hammers player’s exit stance has emerged after contract news has dropped.