Former Premier League goalkeeper Paul Robinson has claimed West Ham star Jarrod Bowen can be a ‘problem’ for David Moyes.
The 25-year-old has been in scintillating form this season but mainly operating from a wide right position in a front three.
Occasionally asked to cover for Michail Antonio in a more central position, Bowen’s versatility has been crucial at times.
Speaking to Football Insider, Robinson suggested that the Englishman is much less effective away from a natural wide role.
I know Moyes believes Jarrod Bowen can play there but when he does, they lose his creativity from wide areas. That’s the problem. It is similar to [Harry] Kane at Tottenham and [Patrick] Bamford at Leeds. The way West Ham play is pretty rigid with an out and out number nine. When Antonio doesn’t play, they miss him dearly. They didn’t address it in the transfer market. [Andriy] Yarmolenko plays there occasionally but he’s not the answer. I think it’s an area they are light in. Moyes will have to be very careful when the European games start coming. If Antonio is out for a length of time they will miss him.
Bowen operated as a centre-forward as the Irons snuck past National League North side Kidderminster Harriers on the weekend.
So far this season the former Hully City man has scored 10 times and provided 10 assists in 33 appearances – seven of which have come from a central position.
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Robinson is certainly preaching to the choir on this one.
West Ham fans have been crying out for additional striker cover ever since Sebastien Haller left the club over a year ago.
Despite being an adept performer centrally, Bowen’s proven to be amongst the best wide men in the Premier League this term and moving the £31.5million valued ace creates a weakness in two positions with one move.
Unfortunately, there’s not much Moyes can do to remedy the situation between now and the summer.
