Former Premier League striker Kevin Phillips expects the new West Ham United signing Jarrod Bowen to be given his full debut sooner rather than later.
The January recruit has come off the bench for the Hammers at both the Etihad Stadium and Anfield since his arrival from Hull City last month, and had a golden chance to level things against Liverpool on Monday night, one which went begging, but he has shown enough in those cameos to suggest he could make an impact at the London Stadium.
West Ham need every attacking option they can get between now and the end of the season, if they are to retain their Premier League status, and having paid a lot of money to bring Bowen to the capital, it makes sense that he gets utilised soon.
Phillips liked what he saw of the attacker against Liverpool, and expects Hammers boss David Moyes to provide him with his first start in the near future.
“It is not going to be long before Moyes starts him in a game. Saturday could be the one with Antonio and Snodgrass having had tough games against Manchester City and Liverpool.” Football Insider quotes him as saying.
“He could have scored (against Liverpool) and should have scored but perhaps delayed it a little bit.
“We have seen it already this season at Hull, he gets into goalscoring positions and West Ham certainly need players who can put the ball in the back of the net.
“I expect him to have more game time between now and the end of the season.”
Bowen found the net 54 times in his 131 appearances for Hull City before he made the move to the London Stadium, and West Ham could do with him continuing that fine record for them, as his amount of game time increases over the coming weeks.