According to the Daily Mail, reporting on Friday (6 October), the Football Association are considering a compromise over Saka’s involvement for Gareth Southgate which is set to see the attacker rested for the game versus the Socceroos.
It’s also been shared that England and Arsenal medics would collaborate after Sunday’s match between the Gunners and Manchester City to decide whether Saka should remain with Southgate’s squad amid concerns over his overall fitness.
Discussions could centre around a potential agreement that would see the Arsenal star report to St George’s Park as normal but undertake a significantly tapered training programme and not start against the Aussies at Wembley which could mean Southgate takes the opportunity to start Bowen instead.
The England boss admitted in his press conference on Thursday (5 October) that the game against Australia will be an opportunity to see how fringe players fare in his squad and that may certainly be Bowen’s chance to stake a deserved claim for a consistent England role or spot.
The 26-year-old forward has been in spectacular form for the Hammers so far this campaign. Bowen scored three goals across West Ham’s four matches last month, coming in wins over Luton Town and Sheffield United, plus the defeat at Liverpool.
Indeed, that continued the England international’s fine form throughout the 2023-24 campaign, having now scored and assisted a combined six goals and one assist in seven games – a tally only his potential predecessor at Liverpool Salah, Watkins (both seven) and Erling Haaland (nine) can better.
Such form deservedly led to a call-up to the squad from Southgate but it’s evidently clear that the forward deserves more from this international window – a chance to show why he’s amongst the best of England’s plethora of talent.
Harry Kane has only scored three more league goals than the Hammers forward and he has also managed to find the net more often than Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford and Eddie Nketiah, certainly making him a sure bet to start one of those England games coming up.
Had Bowen missed out on this latest England squad, it would have been hard to imagine him ever finding his way back into Southgate’s plans as the former Hull City man is arguably in the form of his life currently and is certainly one of the Three Lions’ best attacking players based on recent performances.
Now it’s time for Southgate to reward him with a key role in these next two matches with Saka potentially set to be rested for the Australia game.
