Bowen can be West Ham’s Brooking in Frankfurt

THE Eintracht Frankfurt analysts in attendance at the London Stadium, doing their homework ahead of Thursday’s Europa League semi-final second leg, will have been as surprised as anyone by David Moyes’s line-up. Stronger than expected, it included Jarrod Bowen in attack, Declan Rice in midfield and Kurt Zouma in defence, starting his second game in four days since returning from an ankle injury. What those analysts will have noted was how, if West Ham are to produce a comeback in Germany, it is Bowen who will be their tormentor. If they are to do a ‘Gulliver’ job on anyone, he’s the one they need to tie down. Otherwise, Bowen is capable of turning that tie on its head from 2-1 down. Frankfurt don’t need a history lesson — they know what happened 46 years ago after beating West Ham 2-1 in the 1976 European Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final first leg. They went on to lose the second leg 3-1 and exited the competition. Trevor Brooking was West Ham’s hero that night. Bowen has that same chance and he warmed up for Thursday by scoring his 10th Premier League goal of the season. It took him to 100 goal involvements in 208 games in England’s top four tiers, scoring 71 and assisting 29. England manager Gareth Southgate is watching and the smart money is on him being taken to the World Cup in Qatar as an attacking option. That door has been left open by the poor form of

Marcus Rashford and others. This game felt lifeless for long periods; lots of sideways passing, safe possession and little creativity. But when Bowen was fed, it livened up. His excellent equaliser involved him controlling the ball from Vladimir Coufal with his left foot before blasting it beyond Aaron Ramsdale, a deflection helping it on its way. He should have done better in the second half when breaking behind Arsenal — referee Mike Dean booked him for diving in a bid to get Ramsdale in trouble — but he was West Ham’s main threat throughout. Michail Antonio was on the substitutes’ bench, but when introduced for the final 20 minutes, Bowen moved from the centre to the right wing. That’s where he’s at his best, which will have concerned those Frankfurt analysts. How he ghosts into pockets of space to pick up possession. How he will run at the opposition full back, maintaining close control of the ball. How he’s tireless in his pursuits. Moyes has overseen a super season, though it is now in the balance. Exit the Europa League and that’s West Ham’s chance of Champions League football gone. This Premier League defeat left them seventh and in that undesirable Europa Conference League position. It’s all on Thursday’s result. If West Ham are to come from behind, it’s Bowen who is bound to be their Brooking.