It’s not only Jarrod Bowen who is in the thoughts of Thomas Tuchel as he prepares to name his first ever England squad.
West Ham may have endured a terrible season but the shining lights have been their English players.
Jarrod Bowen has once again been West Ham’s go-to man for goals this season.
Bowen was actually left out of the last England squad in November much to the anger of Hammers fans.
Interim boss Lee Carsley admitted he’d been confronted by West Ham fans for his Bowen snub when at petrol stations.
However, a raft of withdrawals saw Bowen get the call-up in the end.
And he did not waste the opportunity, registering an assist and a superb first England goal in 3-0 and 5-0 wins over Greece and Ireland.
Bowen is hoping to be involved when Thomas Tuchel names his first England squad next week.
MORE WEST HAM STORIES
The German, who was persistently linked with taking over West Ham both last summer and again before he took the England job, will announce his maiden Three Lions selection next Friday ahead of the World Cup qualifiers with Albania and Latvia.
After scoring West Ham’s winner at Arsenal, Bowen revealed Tuchel has called him twice already to check on his form and fitness.
Photo by Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images
Photo by Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images
West Ham duo in Tuchel’s thoughts alongside Bowen
“Hopefully I’ll be involved – we’ve spoken a couple of times, but all I can do is what I did against Arsenal, try and score goals, play my best every single week and see where it takes me,” Bowen said, as reported by The Mirror.
It is now been revealed that is is part of a drive from Tuchel to forge relationships with players on a 55-strong England long list.
FA chief Mark Bullingham says Tuchel has held detailed phone calls with dozens of players ahead of whittling them down for next week’s squad announcement.
And two of them – possibly three – are West Ham players, in addition to main man Bowen.
According to Athletic reporter Rob Tanner, the man many have down as their Hammer of the Year is in Tuchel’s thoughts for a first call-up.
Wan-Bissaka and Hammers teammate liked by Tuchel
Aaron Wan-Bissaka has been West Ham’s best player in his debut season since arriving from Man United.
While the world was already well aware of Wan-Bissaka’s much-vaunted defensive capabilities, he has shown his attacking prowess at West Ham too.
Even in some of West Ham’s poor results – and there have been too many of those – Wan-Bissaka is often the team’s best performing player.
According to Tanner, Wan-Bissaka is one of the full-back options on Tuchel’s list. And the England boss is well aware his Opta stats show he is the best of all England’s full-backs when it comes to one-on-one defending.
Photo by Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images
Photo by Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images
‘Added another string to his bow’
“Aaron Wan-Bissaka seems to have added another string to his bow since moving to West Ham United,” Tanner said.
“The former Manchester United full-back was renowned for being a steady defender during his time at Old Trafford, but he has shown considerable attacking quality as well at West Ham.
“He has never been capped by England at senior level but at the age of 27, and having signed a seven-year contract at West Ham, it may be a case of now or never for Wan-Bissaka, who according to Opta is only dribbled past 0.2 times per 90 minutes, the lowest of all the full-back contenders.”
The other Hammer already in Tuchel’s thoughts is young Ollie Scarles.
It is no exaggeration to say that Scarles has been one of the highlights of a gloomy season for the Irons.
Kilman could make it four on 55-man England long list
Scarles is yet to put a foot wrong in the claret and blue, establishing himself as first choice left wingback under Graham Potter of late.
His display in the win at Arsenal was particularly eye-catching.
And Tanner says that has put the young Hammer on Tuchel’s radar. Although a senior call-up seems unlikely, injuries to the likes of Luke Shaw and Lewis Hall could give Scarles an outside chance.
“Oliver Scarles’ emergence at West Ham United also adds to Tuchel’s options, although the pathway for the 19-year-old may be through the under-21s initially,” Tanner adds.
Many West Ham fans feel Max Kilman, who represented England at Futsal, may be deserving of a call-up.
Like Wan-Bissaka, Kilman has often been the pick of West Ham’s players even during defeats.
It is more than possible the Hammers’ £40m summer signing makes it four West Ham players on Tuchel’s 55-man long list given the dearth of talent at centre-back.