England manager Thomas Tuchel has made a mistake by not calling up Jarrod Bowen to his World Cup squad.
With 26 players allowed, managers could afford to take players who would not be fully fit until the knockout rounds.
Bukayo Saka was a prime example, as he has been on a separate training programme due to a lingering Achilles problem.
The Arsenal winger did not start either of England’s warm-up games or their World Cup opener against Croatia last week.
If only Tuchel had selected Bowen, they could have rested Saka completely until he was needed in the latter stages.
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Why the latest Bukayo Saka update puts Jarrod Bowen back in the spotlight
Bukayo Saka is one of England’s best players, but he has been dealing with an Achilles injury for several months.
Saka even missed some part of the Three Lions’ training session on Saturday ahead of Tuesday’s match against Ghana.
“Yesterday, Bukayo Saka missed training, and that’s a real concern for Thomas Tuchel,” Sky Sports reported on Sunday.
“He came into the camp with an Achilles problem, which he’s been managing for the last six months with Arsenal.”
The report added that Saka was unlikely to start against Ghana, with Noni Madueke expected to keep his place in the team.
With that in mind, Tuchel probably should have brought more cover for the right wing position.
If Tuchel wants to substitute Madueke at any stage, he must either risk Saka or play someone else out of position.
This situation could have easily been avoided if he had called up West Ham captain and prolific goalscorer Jarrod Bowen.
Many would argue that Bowen should even be starting ahead of Madueke, given his far superior end product.
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The Hammers talisman should at least be on the bench, allowing Saka’s Achilles injury to heal.
Bowen would also not have upset the dressing room atmosphere, which Tuchel has made a key reason for his selections.
While it may benefit West Ham to have him fresh and ready for the 2025/26 Championship campaign, Bowen must be disappointed.
This was almost certainly his last chance to represent England at a World Cup—or potentially any major tournament.
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