Big Bowen arrow a hit for Cottee
WEST HAM legend Tony Cottee is backing new boy Jarrod Bowen to score the goals to keep the Hammers in the Premier League.
Cottee, who scored 115 league goals in his two spells at Upton Park, believes the £18million January signing from Hull City has the right credentials to make himself a claret and blue favourite.
“He doesn’t play with any fear. He gets on the ball, he runs at players, he can go right, go left, he scores goals,”said Cottee (below).
“I’ve followed his career closely. On every occasion I have seen him he’s been the best player on the pitch. He was by far the most consistent player in the Championship over the last couple of seasons.”
While other clubs hesitated Hammers boss David Moyes dived in and backed the 23-year-old who spent six years on Humberside to deliver.
And Cottee, now a regular Sky Sports pundit, believes more Premier League bosses should take the plunge into the lower leagues.
He added: “The problem is often Premier League clubs look at a player in the Championship and say, ‘Yes, he is a very good player, but can he do it in the Premier League?’.
“I’ve always thought that if they are good enough then they can step up to the next level because they raise their game and they are also playing with better players.
“Just look at Andy
Robertson who was also at Hull and he’s gone on to Liverpool. Not only has he become one of the best full-backs in the Premier League, he is now one of the best in the world. He has been unbelievable.
“David Moyes has done it before when he was at Everton bringing in Leighton Baines and Phil Jagielka.
Tim Cahill was another one. You have to get them before they cost too much money. West Ham paid £18m for
Jarrod Bowen. But if he scores the goals that keep them in the Premier League it’s money well spent.”
With his direct style Bowen might not have the aesthetic qualities of the likes of Alan Devonshire, Paolo Di Canio and Dimitri Payet. But Cottee said: “They needed someone like Jarrod Bowen to come into the club.”
» Tony Cottee was speaking on The
Old Footballers Club to Rob Mccaffrey on Switchbox TV. For the full interview search Switchbox TV on Youtube.