BOWEN FOR IT
Jarrod hoping to get England nod as Euro 2024 looms
JARROD BOWEN joked his versatility may not exactly increase his England Euro prospects — because captain Harry Kane and in-form Ollie Watkins are among the competition in his other position.
The West Ham forward is gearing up for a ‘big opportunity to impress’ after making the crucial final England squad before the Euros for the upcoming friendlies against Brazil and Belgium.
Bowen forced his way into England boss Gareth Southgate’s plans after playing mainly as a right winger but this season he has also underlined his qualities as a striker, filling the role for most of the campaign and emerging as West Ham’s 18-goal top scorer.
With England having a host of options out wide, Bowen’s flexibility could give Southgate food for thought but the 27-year-old said: “If I’m playing up front, I have got Harry Kane and Ollie Watkins to get ahead of!”
Bowen is enjoying his best ever season but is taking nothing for granted when it comes to his place in the international pecking order.
And the ‘quite shy’ star admits there is still a ‘first day at school’ feel to going on England duty.
But the main thing is Bowen is exactly where any player with hopes of making Southgate’s squad for Germany needs to be right now — firmly in contention.
“It’s definitely important (to be in the last squad before the Euros),” he said. “I’m feeling really good going there and I’m excited to meet up.
Consistency
“I feel like this year my consistency levels have been quite high. Going back to the last set of international call-ups, I scored a few goals before then.
“There was quite a big break, so there’s always that question of if you start the season strongly you’ve got to be in the same place by the back end of the season.
“I feel like I’ve been there all year. It’s the last squad before the summer, it’s a big opportunity to impress and, when you come back, it’s about keeping those same levels of consistency.
“I’ve been picked on my form and every time you go into the international break you have to do it with that mindset of doing what you’ve been doing at club level.
“Don’t try to do too much, don’t try to impress too much. I always think that can backfire on you.
“It’s about going in with that same mindset.
“Go in there and try to impress. When you get your opportunity, it’s important that you take it.”
‘When you get your opportunity, it’s important that you take it’