Jarrod Bowen was unfortunate to miss out on a place in Thomas Tuchel’s 26-man England squad for the World Cup.
Bowen probably fell short of expectations in the 2025/26 campaign, as West Ham were relegated from the Premier League.
However, he still had nine goals and 11 assists in the league — his third consecutive season with at least 20 goal contributions.
Bowen also had a significantly more productive campaign than some of the attacking players in the England squad.
Former Premier League manager Gordon Strachan has claimed that Bowen should have been on the plane to the United States.
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Gordon Strachan rates Jarrod Bowen more highly than Marcus Rashford
Former Southampton and Coventry City manager Gordon Strachan was surprised at Bowen’s omission from the England squad.
Bowen has consistently produced in an average (or worse) West Ham side, whereas others have struggled in better teams.
Marcus Rashford contributed eight goals and seven assists in La Liga this season, far fewer than Bowen did in the Premier League.
However, Rashford was not only named in Tuchel’s squad, but he could even start for England at the World Cup.
“There are players, I find it strange they can’t get into the squad,” Strachan said. “Even Rashford, it’s not as if he’s playing wonderful football.
“You only see glimpses of him taking free-kicks. If you can’t score for Barcelona, you can’t score for anyone.
“There are others like Bowen for West Ham —fantastic. When the going gets tough, he’s there all the time. He’s done enough to get in that squad as well.”
Rashford typically plays on the left wing, meaning he and Anthony Gordon were the two obvious choices to make the squad.
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With Bukayo Saka expected to start on the right, Bowen was competing with Noni Madueke for a backup role.
Madueke had an underwhelming season at Arsenal, but he is a Premier League champion and a Champions League finalist.
Unfortunately for Bowen, his international career may be over unless he joins a top-half Premier League club this summer.
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