West Ham dealt injury blow as Jarrod Bowen is RULED OUT of their Europa League first-leg against Xabi Alonso’s high-flying Bayer Leverkusen
- Bowen was forced off in the 54th minute of West Ham’s 2–1 win against Wolves
- The forward has scored 19 goals and provided eight assists in all competitions
- CHRIS SUTTON: Why Ange Postecoglou is right to ignore the fourth-place debate – Listen to the It’s all Kicking Off podcast
West Ham have suffered a huge injury blow as Jarrod Bowen will miss the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final against Bayer Leverkusen.
Bowen, who has 19 goals and eight assists in all competitions this season, limped off in the 54th minute of the Hammers’ 2-1 win over Wolves on Saturday.
Although the attacker’s injury is not considered serious, Mail Sport understands he will not be fit to play against Xabi Alonso’s side on Thursday.
It is a huge blow for boss David Moyes, who had hoped his top scorer would recover in time for the trip to Germany.
After his side’s win at Wolves, Moyes said: ‘You need all your top players at this stage of the season and Jarrod is someone who has done a great job for us.
Jarrod Bowen will miss the first leg of the Europa League quarter-final against Bayer Leverkusen due to injury
The 27-year-old had to be substituted in the 54th minute and headed straight through the tunnel at Molineux
David Moyes will have to make do without his side’s top scorer for the trip to Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League
‘It looks like he has a knee in his hip, or in his back. It’s not a twist or anything like that. It’s really stiff and I’ve had one or two of those myself and they don’t go away that quickly.
‘We have to hope it doesn’t stick around. I asked Jarrod how he felt and he said he felt pain. I just hope it’s not too bad.
“Every week you need your big players to be ready, but this week we need him.”
Moyes will need a big performance from the rest of his players with Leverkusen unbeaten in 41 games this season.
They are also 16 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga. However, the Hammers have lost just two games in their last 23 European matches under Moyes.