As West Ham United captain, a Hammer of nearly six years, husband to a West Ham-supporting wife and son-in-law to an Irons-mad father-in-law, Jarrod Bowen knows just how important our Premier League derby with Tottenham Hotspur is to every member of the Claret and Blue Army.
Whether it be for Bowen himself, wife Dani, father-in-law Danny Dyer or the millions of supporters around the world, every West Ham supporter wants to get the better of their local rivals at London Stadium this weekend.
A limited number of tickets remain available for the Saturday’s game HERE, and you can be there alongside Bowen and his family as the Hammers seek bragging rights and back-to-back Premier League wins following the outstanding 3-0 victory at Nottingham Forest last time out.
Bowen was unstoppable at the City Ground, scoring a superb goal to continue his outstanding recent form - seven goals and four assists in his previous 12 appearances - and setting him up perfectly for England duty.
While the 28-year-old’s immediate priority is helping the Three Lions to a vital 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying victory in Serbia on Tuesday evening, he will then return to the Club he loves and lead the Hammers into their derby showdown with their London adversaries.
“I think for us now it's important that we got the win going into the international break,” he confirmed. “The manager has got a bit of time now before the next game, a big rival game as well. We've got Tottenham at 5.30 on a Saturday, so it's a great game for us, a great opportunity and we're feeling a better place now than what we did [before Nottingham Forest].
“It was massively important for us [to win at Forest so convincingly]. First two games, losing the way that we did at the position that was in, bottom of the league, conceded eight goals in two games. But to go to Nottingham Forest, win 3-0, and on another day could have scored even more, was a victory that before any international break it's a nice one to get.
“When you lose the first two and you have one more before internationals, you don't want to lose that third game to go to Nottingham Forest and win the way that we did gave everyone a real shot of confidence going into the break.”
Full of confidence personally and with confidence rising at West Ham collectively, Bowen is currently on international duty with England, having been recalled to the squad by Thomas Tuchel after the manager opted to look at other options in June.
After being rested for Friday’s win over Andorra at Villa Park, the versatile, in-form forward could be called upon for Tuesday’s showdown with Serbia in Belgrade. As he is ahead of Saturday’s derby at London Stadium, Bowen is relishing his opportunity to show the country what he can do in a Three Lions shirt.
“Attacking is probably the best options England’s had for a few years now,” he observed. “I've been in and out of squads for a couple of years, and always had that competition for places, and I think it's really good. I think it really brings the best out of you.
“I think for me it's a really big year. I've got a really big year at club level, and then also international level as well. You know there's a World Cup around the corner. So, I think for me, being back in the squad is just trying to show what I do at West Ham, week in, week out. I think that's all that I can do.
“I think even when I was out of the squad last time I felt like I was in a good place at club level and sometimes you don't get selected in the squad, and that's what you have to face. I was disappointed, but ultimately I couldn't change what happened.
“All I could do was have a good pre-season, try and come back in a really good place, and then work to be back into the first squad, which I've managed to do. Now, it's for me to take my opportunities if they come about here, and once this is done go back to my Club and keep doing the same things and almost kind of repeat that process and just trust in my own abilities.”
Join the Claret and Blue Army at London Stadium for Saturday's Premier League derby with Tottenham Hotspur! Click on the graphic below and secure your seats now!
