When Jarrod Bowen signed for West Ham on deadline day in January 2020, there was a genuine fear they would soon be dropping down to the Championship.
Now all the chatter around the London Stadium is about making the Champions League after an incredible transformation under David Moyes.
Bowen, who cost the Hammers an initial £18million to buy from Hull City back then, has proved an absolute bargain and an inspired purchase.
Jarrod Bowen celebrates one of his two goals in West Ham’s recent win over Norwich City
The winger was signed from Hull for £18million just a few weeks after David Moyes returned
The Hammers find themselves fifth, just a point off the Champions League places, at present
The winger is in the midst of an excellent season that has seen nine goals and 10 assists across all competitions, taking him to the brink of a first England call-up.
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West Ham find themselves within touching distance of the top four and are confident of going deep in both the FA Cup and the UEFA Europa League to end a 42-year wait for a major trophy.
‘You can see the difference that has been made in those two years and that is down to the manager and this group of players,’ Bowen tells Sportsmail on the two-year anniversary of his West Ham move.
‘When I first signed we were in a relegation battle, then my first full season was Europa League qualification and now we’re speaking about the Champions League which is where we want to be as a club.
‘It just goes to show the progression at the club and how far we’ve come.
West Ham were battling against relegation from the Premier League when Bowen made his debut for the club against Manchester City back in February 2020
His first goal for the club, in a 3-1 win over Southampton, helped lift them out the drop zone
‘There is happiness, togetherness and spirit at the club. Every day in training, spirits are high and that’s a massive part of it.
‘When you come into an environment every day and see everyone enjoying it, I think that plays a big part in the success.’
The Hammers have beaten Liverpool and Chelsea at the London Stadium this season and dumped both Manchester clubs out of the Carabao Cup.
So it’s little wonder a Europa League knockout phase containing such luminaries as Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, Sevilla and Napoli carries no fear for Moyes’s team.
‘We will go in there with a lot of confidence and see who we draw,’ Bowen, speaking on behalf of Footy.com, said.
‘We don’t want to fear anyone, we want to be the ones feared.
‘The main focus for us was qualifying for the knockout stages and so to do that by topping the group so you miss the first knockout round and go again in March time.
Two years on and West Ham are enjoying Europa League nights with qualification for the Champions League next season very much a target
Many have called on Gareth Southgate to hand Bowen a first England call-up in March
‘Us players, we love paying in Europe but for the fans who missed out seeing us week-in, week-out for so long due to Covid, to reward them with European nights at the stadium, seeing the smiles on faces and the crowds we get in, it’s been unreal for us.’
Bowen is coy about his chances of Gareth Southgate handing him a place in the England squad for the friendlies against Switzerland and Ivory Coast in March.
But given the 25-year-old has outperformed many of England’s wide attackers in terms of goals and assists this season, he can’t be ignored for much longer.
‘Of course, it’s every boy’s dream to play for their national team and that is what I want to achieve as a player,’ he said.
‘But I can’t get caught up in the moment about it. It’s about just playing my game week-in, week-out and do what I can do.
‘I know my own ability and how good I can get so it’s a case of doing that. If an England call-up happened I’d love it.’
Stuart Pearce is part of the West Ham coaching staff and has helped Bowen develop his game
One member of the coaching staff at West Ham who could offer advice on the unique pressures of playing for England is Stuart Pearce, veteran of 78 caps.
Bowen said: ‘Luckily he doesn’t get involved in training! He always says: “I’d kick you if I was playing against you.”
‘He is a great coach and we have done a lot of finishing sessions, similar to my game. He has been really good with my development.’
‘Psycho’ and West Ham’s other coaches have been helping Bowen add to his game, including studying video clips of the way Dutch star Arjen Robben used to cut infield from the right wing and curl in spectacular shots with his left boot.
‘I did study him with Alan Irvine. We have done a lot of videos looking at players in your positions and with me wanting to be the the best player I can be, it’s about studying the game, adapting to the game and looking at different situations with and without the ball,’ he adds.
Bowen has studied videos of former Holland winger Arjen Robben to improve his own game
The potential Europa League showdowns with Barcelona et al can wait, however. First, West Ham must negotiate the banana skin FA Cup fourth round tie at sixth-tier Kidderminster Harriers this Saturday.
The Worcestershire town is just 30 miles by road from where Bowen grew up in Leominster and having started his career in non-league at Hereford United he fully understands what West Ham will face.
‘Hereford were a giant-killing club and though I never played in a FA Cup tie for them I do remember watching the big local derby against Shrewsbury that Hereford won 3-1 [in 2012],’ he recalls.
Sixth-tier Kidderminster Harriers beat Reading in the FA Cup third round to set up their tie against West Ham this Saturday
‘I remember watching that game as a fan and that feeling around the club of beating your local rivals, especially in the FA Cup as well.
‘Of course their fans want that giant-killing but as a player, we just want to progress. It’s about playing our game and not worrying about the occasion.
‘They will be right up for it, for sure, so we want to go there, no hiccups, win the game and get through to the next round.’
Jarrod Bowen was speaking on behalf of FOOTY.COM, an online platform which compares the cost of the world’s biggest sportswear brands and retailers, helping people save money on everything from football kits and boots, to clothing, trainers and equipment. Visit the FOOTY.COM website now for all the latest deals.