Credit: Imago

Daniel Lewis

Mon 30 March 2026 18:10, UK

Jarrod Bowen is at the centre of a predicament for England and West Ham United amid a number of drop-outs for his country, according to Darren Bent.

England have seen a number of players withdraw between Friday’s 1-1 draw with Uruguay and Tuesday’s home friendly with Japan.

Noni Madueke, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, John Stones and Adam Wharton are all out, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Fikayo Tomori and Aaron Ramsdale were all cut from the extended squad.

Bowen played 52 minutes against Uruguay – longer than planned due to an injury sustained by Madueke – and may now get more minutes at Wembley in midweek.

Nuno Espirito Santo would no doubt have Bowen back at Rush Green ahead of West Ham’s clash with Leeds United, but his return will have to wait a bit longer yet.

Jarrod Bowen can’t afford to withdraw from England duty

While some of the players mentioned above may have genuine injury issues, some of a more cynical nature believe others have withdrawn after being put under pressure by their clubs.

The spring international break is badly timed, coming just before the end-of-season run-in where every last game counts.

Here is a breakdown of Bowen’s England career so far:

None more so than West Ham, who have an FA Cup quarter-final with Leeds to come before truly massive games in the Premier League fight for survival.

Having Bowen available for each remaining game is key, with the Englishman and Crysencio Summerville undoubtedly the top two players in Nuno’s squad.

Speaking on talkSPORT on Monday, former England striker Bent said he can understand why clubs will be frustrated at seeing other players withdraw from squads but not their own.

“[Harry] Kane, Rice and Saka – they’re going to the World Cup,” he said. “But someone like Bowen is fighting tooth and nail to get in the squad.

“He’s been incredible for West Ham and he’s their most important player to survive. So in his mind he’s thinking ‘I’ve played a lot of minutes for West Ham and a break would be nice, but I can’t afford that.’.

“He’d like to be fresh but he’s got to play really well [for England]. It’s unfair and I do feel sorry for these players.”

Nuno Espirito Santo will have perfect Bowen scenario in mind

Bowen will at the very least hope to get some minutes against Japan now that he has stuck around with the squad.

And Nuno will certainly not mind the versatile forward getting on the field, as long as his minutes are managed.

Playing the final 30 minutes or so, for example, could be seen as an ideal scenario as it would keep Bowen ticking along nicely.

From a selfish perspective, Nuno will simply want the 29-year-old back in fit shape.

But Bowen will know this is his final chance to make his mark ahead of the squad being named for the World Cup.

If he can do so in a cameo appearance from the bench, that will keep England, Bowen and indeed West Ham happy indeed.