Inside story on Jarrod Bowen’s foot injury which could define West Ham’s season

The medical team at West Ham have got their work cut out trying to get star forward Jarrod Bowen fit for the Europa League game against Lyon next week.

There are reports coming out of West Ham’s Rush Green training centre that the injury is worse than initially diagnosed, and Bowen who was originally billed to return to the Europa League quarter final is now a major doubt.

The club initially released a statement saying that the injury was not significant.

But with the latest round of international games coming to a conclusion in two days, there are now fears that he will be out against Everton over the weekend and there is a real chance of him missing the big European match under the nights on April 7.

What is Jarrod Bowen’s injury and when will he be fit?

According to multiple reports, the English forward is now in with an outside chance to be named in the squad against Everton and he’s touch and go, as of today, for the Lyon game.

The injury is a fractured bone in his foot and even though this is a common problem for professional footballers, the recovery has taken longer than expected.

The medical team has had to work over time to improve his physical health.

The Athletic reported last week that he was running on a treadmill, however the pain in his foot was unbearable and his recovery had to be slowed.

While West Ham sources say the injury is being treated with “caution”, the Hammers are now in the part of the season where every game is important and Bowen is one of the reasons why the east London outfit have punched above their weight in the last two seasons.

His presence has never been needed more in claret and blue than now.

Jarrod Bowen’s impact for West Ham this season

West Ham have lost ground in their push to finish in the top four, having slumped to a worrying 3-1 defeat to direct rivals Tottenham just before the international break.

That defeat meant they dropped to seventh in the league table with 48 points, and crucially six points behind fourth-placed Arsenal who have played two games less than the Irons.

Bowen has 23 goal involvements this season, scoring an impressive 12 and assisting 11 in 39 games across all competitions.

His goals and overall play have been massive for David Moyes and his team and his absence has been deeply felt, especially at a time when the club is keeping an eye on two competitions, the Premier League and Europa League.

This latest injury has done the striker a lot of damage, with reports that he would have been in the last England squad that has just taken on Switzerland and will wrap up against the Ivory Coast on Tuesday night.

For West Ham, games against Everton, Lyon (home and away), Brentford and Burnley will be season defining and they would like to have “super Jarrod Bowen” in the thick of affairs. As things stand, it’s still touch and go.