West Ham star right winger Jarrod Bowen is arguably the most important player on the team and was a hero a couple of years ago when the Hammers conquered the Conference League Final against historic Italian side Fiorentina.
Bowen is one of the best wingers in the Premier League and is currently out with a fractured left foot he suffered on Dec. 29 against Liverpool, leaving West Ham without their best player for the foreseeable future.
With other key attacking injuries, including another long-term one to big No. 9 Niclas Fullkrug in the last FA Cup fixture vs. Aston Villa, Bowen’s injury has loomed even larger.
But the Hammers just received a positive injury update. According to a report from The Standard’s Dom Smith, Bowen is back training with club physios and is far ahead of the initial timeline projected for his return.
This news speaks to Bowen’s determination to get back to full strength and help West Ham pull out of 14th place in the Premier League and any possible relegation fight.
Bowen is an important player and leader to the team, so it is wonderful news that he is already training. He is in the prime of his career at 28 and has scored 5 goals with 4 assists this season, averaging 1.9 key passes and 1.7 dribbles completed per game for the Hammers.
His initial timetable for return slotted him for a six-week absence and therefore a return to the West Ham lineup in mid-February, but if he keeps up like this and is already training on the grass, perhaps he can return before the end of January.
West Ham will face Fulham, Crystal Palace, and Aston Villa in the Premier League to close out January and then have a big battle with London rivals Chelsea on Feb. 3. Imagine if Bowen can be healthy enough to play that fixture, but there should be no pressure on him to risk aggravation at all.
