**The next two months might just be the biggest of Jarrod Bowen’s career.**
The West Ham skipper was recently named in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the upcoming international break. The Three Lions face Uruguay and Japan in friendly matches as they prepare for this summer’s World Cup.
Bowen has been in and out of the England setup in recent months, but his inclusion in Tuchel’s latest selection is an encouraging sign for him. The Hammers’ talisman has never been closer to playing on the grandest stage of them all.
Despite an electric start to 2022, a difficult start to West Ham’s 2022/23 campaign meant that Bowen missed out on the last World Cup. Although the Hammers’ skipper has experienced significant achievements since then, playing at the World Cup has eluded him.
But if he makes a good impression for his country over the break, he could end up on the plane to North America in the summer.
This has been a difficult season for Bowen. He has captained a West Ham side who have been in a constant relegation battle since August. Additionally, his leadership qualities have been called into question, which has led to a strange player-fan dynamic.
The man who won the Conference League for the Irons in 2023 has even received calls to be dropped from the side at times this season – albeit from a vocal minority.
However, even though this would be classed as a “poor season” by Bowen’s high standards, the Hammers’ No. 20 has still managed to record more goal contributions than any other English player in the Premier League this season, with 14.
That’s one more than Morgan Rogers, four more than Cole Palmer and Phil Foden, and five more than Bukayo Saka. Numbers like that should put him in a great position to be included in Tuchel’s World Cup squad. But a World Cup place isn’t all Bowen is fighting for.
Bowen’s West Ham are still in a relegation scrap, sitting 18th in the table and level on points with Nottingham Forest in 17th. With Crysencio Summerville out injured, the onus is now on the Hammers’ skipper to provide big performances and big goals to keep his side in the top flight this season.
He is also the captain of a West Ham side that have progressed further in the FA Cup than any other Hammers team of the last decade. As well as having dreams of being a World Cup footballer, I’m sure Bowen has thought about lifting England’s oldest prize for the team his wife and family adore.
It’s going to be a huge end to the season for Bowen. Of course, it could all end in tears and heartache. But let’s hope that the Hammers stay up, Bowen gets his World Cup place, and who knows? Maybe this West Ham side could just surprise everyone.