West Ham frustration as Gareth Southgate's Jarrod Bowen plan unveiled

West Ham talisman Jarrod Bowen is expected to be deployed on the left wing for England as the Three Lions take on Belgium in a friendly at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday night.

The Hammers man is enjoying another sparkling season at the London Stadium but only featured from the bench for England as they lost to Brazil at the weekend. Despite plundering 18 goals and seven assists in all competitions this season, it remains to be seen whether Bowen will be in the squad to take part in Euro 2024 this summer.

The Telegraph reports that England manager Gareth Southgate will start Bowen tonight and the player will feature in a left-wing position. Brentford man Ivan Toney is expected to start as a striker and Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo is in line for his first international start. Jude Bellingham is set to be deployed as a number 10 again.

West Ham supporters, who will be rooting for Bowen to fulfil his England dreams this summer, will welcome the chance for their star but have been split by Southgate's move to play him on the opposite flank. The forward is a right winger traditionally, although has played as a striker for West Ham this season.

One social media user wrote on X: "Would be a typical Southgate and England move, everyone calling for a player to start so they start that player in a different position to where he's been smashing it for his club."

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Another added: "So they are going to play him out of position and he’s not going to perform. Therefore they will use that as an excuse to leave him out of the Euros squad."

Southgate's decision to switch Bowen, who is left-footed, onto the left wing could come given the number of options at his disposal on the other flank. Bukayo Saka and Phill Foden are all known to play on the right wing and would likely be above Bowen in the pecking order. Meanwhile, Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish are the competition on the left.

One X user said: "I mean, I hate to back Southgate but it makes sense. He’s not getting into the squad on the RW or up front so why not see if he can be an option for the problem position on the left. At least vs Grealish and Rashford he’s got a chance of getting in the squad for Germany."