- Jarrod Bowen has scored five goals and assisted two more so far this campaign
- He scored one of the Hammers most important goals ever at the end of last term
- Click HERE to listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s ‘It’s All Kicking Off’
David Moyes offered a prickly response when asked by a TNT journalist about Jarrod Bowen, after the Hammers star earned himself a recall to Gareth Southgate’s England squad.
The Hammers forward was called up once again to Southgate’s most recent squad, announced on Thursday, which will take on Australia and Italy later in October.
It has been a strong start to the 2023-24 campaign for the player that scored possible the most important goal in West Ham’s recent history to win the Conference League last term.
The right winger has scored five and assisted twice in eight games in all competitions so far this season, and with Bukayo Saka potentially struggling for fitness, there could be a place in the starting XI with his name on it.
However, there was still no place for his new team-mate James Ward-Prowse – but Moyes was clearly not in the mood to talk about the Three Lions squad ahead of Thursday’s Europa League clash with Freiburg.
Jarrod Bowen has scored five and assisted two more in his first eight appearances of the season
David Moyes offered a bristly retort ahead of his side’s important 2-1 away Europa League win
Gareth Southgate recalled the versatile forward for the first time since last September on Thursday
TNT Sport’s Archi Rhind-Tutt asked Moyes about why he thought Bowen had been recalled, adding: ‘What are the qualities that have made him stand out in your team?’
But he was met with the unexpectedly bristly response: ‘Well I’m not going to answer anything about Jarrod getting in the England team before a West Ham cup game tonight so let’s keep to the West Ham questions please.’
A bemused Rhind-Tutt responded: ‘But just the qualities he’s shown in your team then.’
Moyes then seemingly softened a touch, replying with: ‘He’s a really good player. He can play many positions and we’ll use him in different positions tonight.’
Rhind-Tutt took to X, formerly known as Twitter, afterwards to say: ‘David Moyes had a go at me and I’m still not sure why,’ sharing their interaction on social media.
Moyes has a history of bizarre interactions with the media, having once called a journalist out for calling him ‘Moyesy’ as well as an angry exchange with one of his own players.
The West Ham boss was not the only one asked of his players’ England status, with Ward-Prowse also grilled on being left out.
‘Yeah, huge disappointment [not to be selected for England duty],’ said Ward-Prowse.
Bowen had not been called up to the England squad since last September and has four caps
James Ward-Prowse was however left out of the squad to face Australia and Italy later in October
The former Southampton skipper assisted Nayef Aguerd’s winner for West Ham on Thursday
‘Like I said many times in interviews, you can only control what you can control as a player, and that’s playing to a certain level that you believe is good enough to be in that squad.
‘It’s important that you play regularly and I’m doing both at the minute. I feel like I’m in a good place, and it’s not gone my way.’
Ward-Prowse has been capped by Southgate previously, earning 11 caps and scoring twice, but has been unable to force his way back into contention after his last call-up in September 2022.
The former Southampton captain was crucial for West Ham on Thursday as they beat Freiburg 2-1 on the road, assisting Nayef Aguerd’s header in the second half which ultimately proved the difference.