MX23RW : Tuesday, January 21 10:07:16| >> :60:2662:2662:

West Ham United star emerges as injury doubt for Bayer Leverkusen clash

West Ham star emerges as injury doubt for Leverkusen clash
© Reuters
West Ham United are sweating over the fitness of one of their star players ahead of next Thursday's Europa League quarter-final clash with Bayer Leverkusen.

West Ham United attacker Jarrod Bowen has emerged as an injury doubt for next Thursday's Europa League quarter-final clash with Bayer Leverkusen.

The England international led the line for the Hammers in Saturday's 2-1 victory at Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League.

However, Bowen was forced off just nine minutes in the second-half following an innocuous collision with Wolves midfielder Mario Lemina.

Bowen attempted to play on, but it quickly became clear that the attacker was unable to continue and he eventually limped off down the tunnel to receive treatment.

West Ham were trailing at half time after Pablo Sarabia scored the opener for Wolves from the penalty spot, but after Bowen's withdrawal, the Hammers turned the game on its head in the second half thanks to strikes from Lucas Paqueta and James Ward-Prowse.

West Ham United's Jarrod Bowen with manager David Moyes on January 7, 2024© Reuters

David Moyes delivers Jarrod Bowen injury update

Hammers boss David Moyes has confirmed that Bowen sustained a hip injury against Wolves and is hopeful that the attacker's problem is not as serious as initially feared.

"We've got to hope he's OK. We need all our top players," Moyes told reporters after the match as quoted by the Evening Standard.

"He's had a knee into his hip or back. It's not a twist. He said he's got kneed and he's really stiff.

"I've had one or two of those myself and they don't go away too quick. I'm hoping it won't be too bad."

West Ham remain seventh in the Premier League table despite their win over Wolves, but they have moved level on points with sixth-placed Manchester United, who play host to leaders Liverpool on Sunday.

West Ham United's Jarrod Bowen celebrates scoring their third goal and completes his hat-trick on February 26, 2024© Reuters

Can West Ham cope without Bowen?

Bowen has been standout performer for West Ham this season and is the club's top scorer with 19 goals in 39 appearances across all competitions.

The 27-year-old has chipped in with one goal and three assists across six Europa League matches this term, while he contributed with five goals and two assists in the Hammers' triumphant Europa Conference League campaign last season, including three goals in the knockout rounds - one being the match-winner against Fiorentina in the final.

Bowen's importance in attack for West Ham is unquestionable and his potential absence for a Europa League quarter-final first-leg tie in Germany against high-flying Bundesliga leaders Leverkusen will be a concern for Moyes and co.

Should Bowen failed to recover in time, Michail Antonio is the most likely candidate to lead the line for West Ham, although he has only scored four goals in 25 games so far this season.

Danny Ings is another option to lead the line, but he has been a peripheral figure under Moyes this term and has been reduced to just six starts in all tournaments, scoring only once.

Versatile attacker Mohammed Kudus is West Ham's second-top scorer this season with 12 goals and he could be deployed as a centre-forward, but he has predominantly played on the right side of attack where the Hammers are limited for options.

ID:540758:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect6247:
Written by
Oliver Thomas

Click here for more stories about Jarrod Bowen

Click here for more stories about Bayer Leverkusen

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Wolverhampton Wanderers' Max Kilman celebrates scoring a goal before it was disallowed following a VAR review on April 6, 2024
Read Next:
"Terrible, terrible, terrible decision" - O'Neil fumes over Wolves disallowed goal
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Bayern MunichBayern18143156154145
2Bayer LeverkusenB. Leverkusen18125144242041
3Eintracht FrankfurtFrankfurt18113442241836
4Stuttgart1895436261032
5RB Leipzig189453227531
6Mainz 05Mainz188463123828
7Wolfsburg188374032827
8Freiburg188372534-927
9Werder Bremen187563134-326
10Borussia DortmundDortmund187473231125
11Borussia MonchengladbachBorussia M'bach187382729-224
12Augsburg186482133-1222
13Union BerlinUnion Berlin185581624-820
14St Pauli1852111421-717
15Hoffenheim184592335-1217
16Heidenheim1842122338-1514
17Holstein Kiel1832132646-2011
18VfL BochumVfL Bochum1824121740-2310


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!