Jarrod Bowen is on course for Euro 2024 this summer as the settled Hammers forward looks to a long future at the club.

The last year has been by far the best of Jarrod Bowen’s football career. From scoring the winning goal in Prague to help West Ham win their first trophy in 43 years, and then going on to score twenty goals and provide ten assists in the 23/24 season, being named Hammer of the year in the process.

Bowen will be hoping to add to his sensational year by claiming his first taste of international glory this summer, as he looks set to make Gareth Southgate’s final 26-man squad for Euro 2024.

The right winger played all ninety minutes in England’s 3-0 victory against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Monday evening. He looked bright in flashes against the Balkan side but failed to make a real impact until the final minute of normal time.

After some good work down the left, Jack Grealish picked out James Maddison near the by-line. He cut it back to Bowen who was alone just in front of the penalty spot. He picked his spot to make it 3-0, however despite it heading for the back of the net his teammate Ezri Konsa attempted to divert it into the net himself, but failed, stopping Bowen from scoring his first ever England goal in the process. However, it wasn’t all bad as Konsa’s blocked attempt fell to Harry Kane who was there to smash England into a 3-0 lead.

Despite being almost certain not to start a game in the Euros, with Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka all but nailing down the right-wing position after a good season at the Emirates. Bowen will hope to score his first three lions goal in Germany off the bench this summer, and with his clutch goal in the UEFA Conference League final a year ago, Southgate would be taking a huge risk leaving him at home.

With Jarrod Bowen’s ability to play on the right as well as up front, it would allow England to take just two strikers instead of three. Meaning Kane, Ollie Watkins and the West Ham man would be the options up there. He would be much more likely to get minutes in his preferred position on the right however, with Palmer playing centrally on Monday, it could mean Bowen and Saka are in direct competition for the role.

Jarrod Bowen spoke about his chances of making the squad after the win over Bosnia. He told Sky Sports, “I think I’m here on merit for what I’ve done since I’ve been at West Ham and it’s about finding that balance where, yes, you want to impress, but you don’t want to do too much.”

The midfielder received his first cap by Gareth Southgate in June 2022, just months prior to the World Cup finals in Qatar. However, he wasn’t picked for the final 24-man squad.

“I don’t know if I’m a better player, but I’m just more mature as a player and I think that comes with age, with the games that you play and confidence from the games that you play and every opportunity you have here [with England], you gain confidence from it. I’m not in a different headspace, but more mature as a player and more comfortable with these big occasions. That was only my eighth cap, so I’m still fairly new, but I’ve been in and around camps long enough to know what it takes to play at this level. So, as I said, every time I get this opportunity it’s about doing everything I can to get in the squad that I didn’t manage to before.”

“Of course, it (not being selected for the World Cup) makes me want it more, but I’ve got to a balance like we just spoke about of not doing too much. The group we’ve got, the players and the coaching staff, make you really welcome so it’s a great group to be involved in. We’ll see what happens on Friday. We have one more game before that [against Iceland] which will be a good test before the first Euros game and these games are important to gain confidence and get the good results and good performances.”

If Bowen wasn’t to receive a call-up for the Euros this summer. He still has a lot to look forward too, West Ham’s appointment of Julen Lopetegui could help take Bowen to the next level. It is unclear yet as to where the Spaniard plans to use Bowen, as he can play as both a central striker and on the right wing.

However, whatever position he plays in he is likely to be in space in central areas, which means he could add even more goals to his tally. Lopetegui has always used a 4-3-3 formation, or something similar like a 4-2-3-1. One thing that is always common in the former Real Madrid manager’s teams is the full backs pushing up and creating the width.

During his time with Sevilla, his full-backs, commonly Jesus Navas and Marcos Acuna pushed up really high and wide, allowing the wingers in Lucas Ocampos, Suso, and Munir to take up areas centrally alongside Luuk De Jong or long-term West Ham target Youssef En-Nesyri, who often started as the focal point. Jarrod Bowen would be more than capable of playing in either of these positions next season for the new look possession based West Ham side. And with his improving aerial ability, he could be getting on the end of plenty of crosses from Emerson and Coufal under the Spaniard.

Even with a potential great Euros ahead of him, it is almost impossible that Jarrod Bowen leaves West Ham this summer. The Hereford Hammer signed a massive new 7-year contract back in October, keeping him at the club till June 2030. With rumours of Mo Salah leaving Liverpool quieting down, there wouldn’t be many potential destinations for him anyway. This is without considering the huge price tag that would be put on his head, and how happy he is at the club. According to Ex, he has absolutely no desire to leave the club.

West Ham fans have a lot to look forward to this season, and watching another year of Jarrod Bowen would be near the top of that list.

By Daniel Luker