For Premier League managers, international breaks are periods to rest and recharge, but also periods of great anxiety as they wait for their best players to return free from injury.
For David Moyes, though, the March break gave him the opportunity to head to Wembley Stadium to watch two of his very best, England’s Jarrod Bowen and Brazil’s Lucas Paquetá, go head-to-head in a high-profile friendly.
While the proud Scot joked that he was ‘wearing a Brazil shirt’ and ‘celebrating when Brazil won 1-0’, Moyes was also delighted to see both Bowen and Paquetá produce impressive performances at the Home of Football.
A few days later, Bowen started, excelled and was unfortunate not to score in England’s 2-2 draw with Belgium, while Paquetá wore the captain’s armband and netted a nerveless late penalty as Brazil drew 3-3 in Spain.
While the latter is being assessed for an ongoing issue with his calves, it is hoped the No10 will be fit to face Newcastle United on Saturday, while Bowen is fully fit to take his place in Moyes’ starting XI at St James’ Park as West Ham United strive for an important Premier League win.
“I went [to Wembley] in the hope that Jarrod would start and also to see Paquetá and I thought he [Paquetá] played brilliantly well in the first half,” Moyes began, speaking in his pre-match press conference at Rush Green on Good Friday. “He was probably the best player on the pitch, certainly in the first half, and I think Jarrod played really well when he came on in the second half.
“I have to say Jarrod’s performance against Belgium was excellent. I think he showed the reasons why he’s been talked about. He didn’t look out of place and he was certainly unlucky not to get one or two goals on the night.
“I thought both players have done well and I’m really pleased for both of them. Paquetá has been out of the Brazilian team and they’re probably glad to have him back, and obviously Jarrod getting caps for England, considering the boy came from Hereford, then Hull City and West Ham and worked his way up, those are the stories you want in football. He’s done really well.
“As I said many times, Gareth Southgate has done a brilliant job in who he has selected and who he has chosen. He’s got a great team and they probably have as good a chance of winning the Euros as any team, and that says something about the England team that you can say that.
“Over the years they have been good, but maybe not as good as a France or a Germany, but now I think you can say they’re as good as any of those teams, so I think if Jarrod could be part of that it would be great for West Ham, but more importantly it would be great for Jarrod Bowen.
“I think we saw the other night something I’ve been trying to get over, which is that he wants to score goals and you could see it in his eyes and his actions. He was unlucky not to score. He’s not someone who stays out wide and is happy to make goals, he really wants to score, and I thought he was one of England’s best players, if not the best, on the night.”
Bowen heads for the North East two short of 20 goals for the season in all competitions – a feat no West Ham player has achieved since Marlon Harewood in 2004/05 – and his manager believes he will hit that target sooner rather than later, given the form he has been in.
“I pulled Jarrod aside recently and said to him that, with what he’s got, 20 should be in his sights,” he revealed. “He’s got 18 in all competitions, which is ‘wow’, and I’d be disappointed if he didn’t get to 20.”
While Moyes is a huge fan of Bowen, he is equally enthused by the form of Paquetá, who has been integral to West Ham’s strong 2023/24 campaign.
Despite the distraction of off-field issues and the aforementioned calf complaint, the 26-year-old has finished on the losing side in just one of his previous 12 Premier League appearances, while the Irons have not won a top-flight game without him since defeating Fulham at Craven Cottage on 8 April 2023.
“All you can do with your players is offer them good support, so I don’t think I had any magic formula with Lucas, but he’s a top player and a great boy to work with. I really like him,” Moyes observed.
“He gives me ups and downs all the time because he can do things that drive me mad, but I like him a lot. He’s a really good boy and a really good footballer. He tries to say his English isn’t good, but I think he’s at it!
“I didn’t see the Spain v Brazil game, but I thought he played very well against England and put a couple of balls through like he’s done for West Ham this season.
“All I know is I want Lucas Paqueta fit and available to play and when he does he makes West Ham better and we’re enjoying him, I have to say.”
