West Ham United Southampton
Aheed Abrar
Wed 25 December 2024 12:10, UK
Ivan Juric will try to keep Jarrod Bowen quiet as West Ham United take on Southampton on Boxing Day, Dean Ashton says.
The former Irons forward feels the England international has been the Hammers’ only threat going forward this season and expects the new Saints manager to target him at the St Mary’s Stadium on 26 December.
In the current campaign, the 28-year-old has five goals and four assists in 19 appearances for the East London Club in all competitions, and Ashton believes he’s the key to stopping Julen Lopetegui’s team.
Speaking on talkSPORT’s Premier League All Access [24 December], the 41-year-old said: “If you can nullify Jarrod Bowen, which I’m sure something Juric will look to do, then you pretty much stop them because Paqueta, Kudus, Fullkrug and Sommerville have not really shown they are a genuine threat in enough games. The results they have got have been because of Bowen’s goals and assists.”
Ivan Juric will surely target Jarrod Bowen in Southampton v West Ham United
Juric was appointed Southampton’s head coach after Russell Martin’s dismissal, and he will take charge of his first game in the Premier League against the Irons.
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The Croatian manager brings vast experience to the English top flight with him, having managed Roma before his move to Hampshire.
As things stand, the Saints are bottom of the league table, with just one win so far, and they look like the favourites to go down.
West Ham fans will be confident of a comfortable victory going into the fixture, but with the change in the dugout, it remains to be seen whether Juric can turn the tide.
West Ham United star Jarrod Bowen
West Ham United forward Jarrod Bowen. [Credit: Imago]
The Hammers haven’t been at their best this season either and should be challenging for a European spot in the table rather than languishing in the bottom half.
While the fear of relegation shouldn’t be a concern for the Irons, results and performances need to improve if the Irons have any hope of having a relatively successful campaign.
In other West Ham news, Graham Potter has been tipped to replace Lopetegui.
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