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In Focus: Jarrod Bowen

Is it too soon to talk about Jarrod Bowen? Born 20th September 1996, Bowen was a transfer deadline day signing from Hull City joining team mates Tomas Soucek and Darren Randolph in January 2020 transfer window under Moyes, who was rumoured to be looking for younger talent to come into the team.

Bowen had to wait for his first start, coming on as a sub in the games against Man City and Liverpool in the last 20mins of each match.

Jarrod made his first start in front of the home crowd in a 3-0 victory against Southampton on 29th February where Bowen also registered his first goal for the Hammers.

Bowen began his professional career at Hereford United after being rejected by both Aston Villa and Cardiff City, breaking into the first team at the age of 16. Bowen has fond memories of his time there both as a supporter and developing player.

“It was the club for whom I made my professional debut at such a young age and that kind of environment of non-league, with older pros, did me well, because I was going into the changing room with a robustness from a young age and, since then, I’ve taken everything in my stride.”

After Hereford we’re expelled from the Football Conference in 2014 Bowen signed for Premier League side Hull City in July of that year. After an impressive preseason in 2016, and scoring regularly for the reserves, he made his first team debut on 23rd August playing against Exeter City in a 3-1 victory in the EFL Cup.

Whilst Hull were in the Premier league, Bowen was keen to play more games and requested to go out on loan, but this was refused. When they were relegated to the Championship some first team players left and Bowen saw it as an opportunity to step.

“When we got relegated and a few people left, after the first season I had in the Championship, I felt I was quite a key player in the team and I had to help people learn from me, so to speak.”

Bowen is grateful for his time at Hull and what he learnt as a developing player, making 131 appearances and scoring 54 goals.

“Hull is a good club. The fans were great to me. They’ve got the fanbase and a good culture around there and I’m sure they’ll do well in the future.”

Referred to as a budget Arjen Robben, Bowen has opened up about his reasons for joining the Hammers saying he felt he had done as much as he could at Hull.

“I felt I had earned this opportunity.”

“It’s everyone’s dream to play in the Premier League and, when a team like West Ham came in for me, it was a no-brainer.”

“Look at the Stadium. When I signed, I went to the Stadium and I looked around and got to take it all in. It’s incredible.”

“Making my home debut, coming out in front of all those people. That’s when it hit me. That was what I dreamed of. I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

What can we expect from Bowen in the future? At 23 years he has most of his professional playing career ahead of him and he is hungry for success and wants to impress. Jarrod certainly impressed against the Saints at the London Stadium, tracking back, tackling and helping to launch counter attacks and continued his impressive home debut away to Arsenal. Bowen arrived with 17 goals to his name, so are we expecting to see the same at West Ham? Is it too early to tell and importantly will Bowen settle into the Premier League and become the kind of player we need for the future?

We are going to have to wait a while to see how Bowen develops given the uncertainty regarding when the league will restart.

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