Jarrod Bowen is in the form of his life.
The 25-year-old has scored eleven goals in all competitions – the most of any player this campaign for West Ham. He has also provided ten assists. Again, the most of any Hammer.
Having become such an influential character on the pitch in Claret and Blue, there is no doubt for Bowen that the 2021/22 season has been his best so far. Having achieved ten goals and ten assists, Bowen now wants even more.
“I think this definitely is my best season so far,” Bowen told whufc.com. “Maybe in the Championship I scored more goals but this is a very difficult league to come into. Hitting double figures in terms of goals and assists in the Premier League is amazing for me. That was one of my aims, and now I just want to hit as many more as I can.
“I definitely keep an eye on my numbers. I set myself targets at the start of every season and, as well as it’s probably gone for me, I probably could have done so much more and maybe scored more and assisted more. But I think maybe that is down to myself and pushing myself and wanting to be the best that I can be.
“This season, for me, has been about progression again. I’ve done better than last season and we’ve still got the second half of the season, so I want to score as many and assist as many as possible and hit my targets.”
Bowen’s sensational form throughout the campaign has seen the forward nominated for the London Football Player of the Year. The Hammers No20 finds himself competing for the honour alongside fellow Irons star Declan Rice and Chelsea trio Antonio Rudiger, Thiago Silva and Jorginho.
Bowen knows he has been playing well, but the forward had no idea his recent efforts saw him held in such high acclaim.
“Finding out I was nominated was really special. I wasn’t expecting it at all. I didn’t really know what they were on about when they told me. I thought it was a bit of a wind up.
“It’s a massive honour to be nominated. Individual awards are always nice, so I’m delighted to be nominated for it.”
West Ham next come up against Leicester City, an opponent who Bowen found the net against in both the home and away fixture last season.
Like the Irons this campaign, the Foxes have worked their way into the European qualification scene in the last few seasons, and the versatile attacker knows just what a threat the home side will pose at the King Power Stadium.
We had the break just gone, and now we’re straight back to it for another big push in the second half of the season. We want to achieve something really special for this Club.
Jarrod Bowen
Bowen sees this Sunday’s Premier League match as another tough game in a busy schedule for the side, one which they will need to be at their very best in.
“Leicester have come on leaps and bounds and they’re still doing well this season as well,” Bowen continued. “They were in Europe this season as well so we respect them, we respect what they do as a team.
“Especially going away from home, it’s going to be difficult, but like any other game we’re going there to win.
“We’re back to it, back into the thick of it. We had a busy schedule in December and then we had the break just gone, and now we’re straight back to it for another big push in the second half of the season.
“We want to achieve something really special for this Club this season.”
Past Leicester City and into March, West Ham face even more challenges, but for Bowen personally, the prospect of his form earning him a first-ever England international call-up looms closer.
Media outlets, fans and even other players have suggested West Ham’s winger should be in line to feature for the Three Lions in the upcoming matches at Wembley Stadium at the end of March. But Bowen wants to focus on what he can control – his own efforts.
“Of course, I looked at the fixtures and seen when England are playing but, like I’ve said before, it’s about me reaching the levels that I know I can get to. Whatever happens in terms of a national team call-up, that’s out of my hands.
“My main focus is playing my game to the best of my ability, help this team, get into the top four – which is where we want to be – and if other things happen, they happen.
“No one has really spoke to me about it. There’s still a long time to go for any squad announcements and that kind of stuff. It’s a long way away and all I want to do is focus on me, the team and, if it happens, it happens.”