There is still hope over the Jarrod Bowen injury situation after David Ornstein claim as West Ham are approached for comment.
The mysterious Bowen injury has had West Ham medics stumped according to Hammers boss David Moyes.
Moyes has been without his star attacker since he hobbled off during the 1-0 defeat to Liverpool at the start of the month.
After the Liverpool match Moyes said Bowen had injured his heel but was unsure how serious the knock was.
There was promising news when West Ham confirmed a scan showed no significant damage to Bowen’s foot.
West Ham’s medical chief Richard Collinge confirmed Bowen would face further assessment but the forward has been out ever since and missed out on a call-up to the England squad for this international break.
While there may be no significant damage, the fact Bowen was in pain putting weight on his heel was a concern.
And speaking in a recent pre-match press conference, Moyes said the mysterious Bowen injury had West Ham medics stumped.
“We’ve got Jarrod Bowen out for this game who’s been in great form for us in the last month or two,” Moyes said in his pre-match presser (whufc.com).
“Jarrod’s got a bit of an X factor which you need up-front. He’s been in really good form in the last two to three months. It won’t change us a great deal, but certainly we’ll be missing an important player.
“We’ve had three or four different scans on it and we’re not seeing anything severe, but we’re also trying to find out the cause. Because we’re a bit concerned what it might be (Sky Sports News 8.40pm Wednesday March 9th). We’re hoping we’ll have Jarrod back because he’s been a really important part of the team recently.”
Rumours have abound that the striker had fractured a bone in his foot.
And today Athletic journalist David Ornstein claimed Bowen has indeed fractured a bone in his foot and is therefore a doubt for the Europa League quarter-final against Lyon.
That would obviously be a crushing blow for the Hammers.
Still hope over Jarrod Bowen injury after David Ornstein claim as West Ham are approached for comment
But there is still hope over the Bowen injury after Ornstein’s claim as West Ham have been approached for comment on the situation.
“Jarrod Bowen’s foot injury is worse than first feared, The Athletic understands,” Ornstein reports on The Athletic.
“West Ham announced earlier this month that the 25-year-old did not suffer significant damage to his foot during his side’s 1-0 defeat by Liverpool on March 5. However, it is now understood Bowen is facing a race against time to be fit for West Ham’s Europa League quarter-final meetings with Lyon due to a fractured bone in his foot.
“Manager David Moyes will be hoping to call on Bowen’s services for the two-legged European tie against Lyon. The first leg is at the London Stadium on April 7 and then West Ham travel to France the following week…
“The Athletic has contacted West Ham for comment.”
That last line confirms that – as yet – none of the Bowen claims have been officially verified by the club.
Bowen has 17 days – that’s nearly three weeks – to get back in time for the first leg against Lyon.
And the fact West Ham have not commented on the speculation over the foot fracture rumours means there is still hope he could be back in time.
Speaking after the defeat to Spurs on Sunday Moyes suggested Bowen’s injury was still proving difficult to pinpoint.
Bowen has been seen walking around without any obvious issues or pain and has been attending matches with the squad.
That suggests – as West Ham previously stated – there is no significant injury given he was reportedly unable to put weight on the foot just over a week ago.
There is still hope over Bowen and he will be crucial to West Ham’s hopes of success both in the Premier League and Europa League after the break.