Credit: Imago

Cameron Smith

Wed 1 April 2026 7:40, UK

West Ham United winger Jarrod Bowen has struggled to really get going in an England shirt.

The wideman featured in both friendlies against Uruguay and Japan in this international break, with England failing to win in a 1-1 draw and a 1-0 loss, respectively.

Bowen has played an integral role at the London Stadium since his 2020 move from Hull City, scoring 84 times and laying on 58 assists.

But, he has never quite got going for the national team since his debut in 2022, with just one goal across 22 appearances.

At West Ham, though, he remains talismanic, and his recent displays for England prove why he is tailor-made for the Hammers.

Jarrod Bowen suits West Ham perfectly – the same can’t be said for England

Naturally, the style of play at a club often around the mid-table region of the Premier League will differ to that of a national team carrying expectations of winning the biggest prizes.

At West Ham, the 29-year-old carries much of both the goalscoring and creative burden, something that has been further exacerbated by his role as captain.

England, though, are not as reliant on Bowen, who suffers as a result, while the differing style of play hardly helps either.

Favouring a much more transitional game at the London Stadium, the winger often finds himself with space to run into, and utilise his wand of a left foot and fantastic ability to carry the ball over both short and long distances.

While it is the case in most friendlies and qualifiers that England play, it has especially been the case across the last week that the Three Lions are met with a defence determined to remain resolute, leaving no gaps – never mind the space often afforded by a more counter-attacking style.

It can also be said that Bowen is a victim of England’s progression over the last decade, with appearances in finals and the latter stages of the tournament making the nation much more feared as an opponent – stripping the side of the ability to play the blistering counter-attacking football seen during the early years of Gareth Southgate’s tenure.

After racking up 52 minutes against Uruguay, Bowen started out on the right against Japan, losing possession nine times, while his one dribble attempt was unsuccessful.

Without Harry Kane to link with, England looked toothless in the final third, but Bowen’s poor record for the national team goes on. His importance for the Hammers, however, simply cannot be ignored.

Jarrod Bowen is a talismanic figure for West Ham

When it comes to the aforementioned mid-table region of the Premier League, there aren’t many more suited to it than Bowen.

He does possess potentially elite-level quality when presented with an opportunity to inflict damage in the final third, but he is simply tailor-made for West Ham as a player.

Alongside being a ruthless finisher, he is someone who will continue to drive and drive at defences, even when he himself is not having the best of days.

He is simply Mr Reliable for the Hammers, and always comes up with a big moment when required, as best shown by his UEFA Conference League-winning goal in 2022.

He is not quite the player to operate in a system that is not reliant on his output, but Hammers fans won’t mind that at all if it means retaining his services.

A fantastic servant to the club, Bowen will be remembered fondly at the London Stadium, and it is hard to think of anyone who sums up West Ham of the modern era more than him.