West Ham United: Gareth Southgate gets Jarrod Bowen call totally wrong for England v Belgium
West Ham ace Jarrod Bowen is set to be handed a start for England when they take on Belgium in an international friendly.
The Telegraph reports [26 March] that Bowen will be handed just his seventh England cap in Tuesday’s (26 March) contest at Wembley.
While that is good news on the face of it – the former Hull City man is fully deserving of the recognition – he is set to be played out of position.
The report adds that Ivan Toney will start as striker in the absence of Harry Kane and Bowen looks likely to be used on the left of a front three.
Bowen has been a major success story at London Stadium when used through the middle or on the right.
Not once this season has yet been used on the left-hand side by David Moyes across 37 appearances [WhoScored], which is pretty telling.
If Bowen is going to be given his chance, surely it makes sense to his him in his strongest position – or at least his second strongest?
Shoehorning him into the side just smacks of disrespect, with many pundits believing he does not have a chance of making the Euros squad.
One person who will be watching with an eager eye is Moyes. If Bowen has a stormer on the left, that could be huge news for West Ham.
It could potentially pave the way for Bowen to play there at club level next season, with Mohammed Kudus on the right.
Should Lucas Paqueta depart, a new striker could then complete one of the finest attacking triumvirates anywhere in the Premier League.
Given what we have seen from Bowen in the past few years, do not bet against him taking his opportunity wherever he is used for England.
In other West Ham news, a Sky Sports reporter has shared a “very big” update regarding the Irons’ potential search for Moyes’ successor.
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