Aoba Tanaka 
West Ham manager David Moyes has weathered criticism this season, but his tactical acumen cannot be disputed, especially considering the transformative impact on Jarrod Bowen. Traditionally a winger, the England international found himself redeployed as a central striker by Moyes earlier in the campaign – a move that has paid off handsomely.
Bowen’s goal tally this season stands at an impressive 14, marking his best return in the Premier League. The pinnacle of this success came with his first career hat-trick in a thrilling 4-2 win against Brentford on Monday.
This strategic shift couldn’t have come at a better time for Bowen and Moyes. The West Ham boss faced mounting pressure following a humiliating 6-0 home loss to Arsenal on February 11 and a subsequent 2-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest just six days later.
Brentford manager Thomas Frank described Bowen as “unplayable” after the match, underlining the player’s exceptional performance. The timing aligns perfectly with England manager Gareth Southgate’s considerations for the upcoming European Championship in Germany this summer.
Moyes, acknowledging Bowen’s resurgence, commented, “If you can play wide and you’re a goalscorer, you will be of interest to the international manager.” He praised Bowen’s contributions that went unnoticed during the team’s recent struggles, highlighting the player’s versatility as a threat on the field.
“It gets him back in the goals,” Moyes emphasized. “I’m sure if he scores like that, he’ll stay in Gareth [Southgate]’s mind. Jarrod Bowen at times has looked that way but hasn’t quite got the goals. Some of his performances recently have gone unnoticed because we haven’t won. He was Johnny on the Spot and got the goals. He was a threat in other ways too.”
Bowen’s resurgence not only reflects Moyes’ astute managerial decisions but also positions him as a key player in Southgate’s considerations for the European Championship. As West Ham fans celebrate the renaissance of Jarrod Bowen, the forward’s impact is set to reverberate on both the domestic and international stages.
