In Focus: Hammers need Bowen back to brilliant best

Jarrod Bowen raised the bar last season — but he is struggling to live up to those same expectations this time around. 

Coming off the back of a stellar 2021-22 campaign, the West Ham star was predicted to continue in the same vein and push for a place in Gareth Southgate's World Cup squad. 

However, while his displays in Europe have been encouraging, the forward's Premier League performances have failed to meet his previously high standards. 

Ahead of the Hammers' trip to face Everton at Goodison Park, we take a look at Bowen's season so far — and his prospects of an England call-up for Qatar 2022.

A year to remember

Last season was the most productive of Bowen's top-flight career to date. 

He was a crucial figure for West Ham as the Irons finished seventh in the Premier League and made it to the semi-finals of the Europa League, losing out to eventual winners Eintracht Frankfurt. 

His attacking contributions were vital to the success of the team, with the 25-year-old scoring 18 goals and registering 11 assists across all competitions. 

Those displays caught the attention of England boss Southgate, who handed him his first four international caps back in June.

Premier League problems

Things have not gone so well since then, however. 

Bowen has started all six of West Ham's Premier League games this season but has failed to score or register an assist. 

In those six matches, he has hit the target with just one of his 11 shots and completed just two of his 18 attempted crosses. 

The Hammers are struggling collectively too — sitting in 18th place ahead of the clash with Frank Lampard's Toffees.

European encouragement

Bowen's performances in Europe have been more encouraging, though. 

While the sample size is somewhat small, the Herefordshire native has struck twice in three continental appearances totalling just 138 minutes. 

He netted the second goal of a 3-1 victory over Viborg in the Europa Conference League play-off round, before coming on at half-time to change the game and equalise from the spot in another 3-1 win — this time in the group stage against FCSB.

Fitness issues

West Ham manager David Moyes has hinted that Bowen's slow start may be down to the fact that the winger is not currently in peak physical condition. 

The Scot said: "I actually thought last year he [Bowen] started quite well. He came back in super condition last year. 

"And I think that actually helped him — and I know maybe it didn't show with his goals [right away] — but I think he came back in a physically brilliant condition. 

"He's been a little bit slow in the goalscoring [department], he's been a little bit unlucky in one or two other things, you know. 

"But hopefully, he's getting much closer to where he was."

England prospects

Bowen's poor start to the campaign will have dented his hopes of making the England squad for the upcoming World Cup. 

The attacker did not score or assist across his four national team appearances in June, with England failing to win any of the games in which he featured (two draws, two defeats). 

However, to put the Three Lions' struggles solely down to Bowen would, of course, be exceptionally harsh. 

And after Bowen was selected in Southgate's squad for the upcoming Nations League fixtures against Italy and Germany, he may well still have a chance of making the plane to Qatar.