West Ham coach David Moyes is hopeful that key striker Jarrod Bowen will give you the option to return for Thursday’s Europa League quarter-final second leg against Bayer Leverkusen at the London Stadium.
Bowen, 27, missed the 2-0 defeat in the first leg and last week’s Premier League match against Fulham with a hip injury.
The England international, who has scored 19 goals in all competitions this season, returned to training on Wednesday.
“It was great to see Jarrod on the pitch,” said Moyes.
“I would never take a risk on a player if I knew he was injured, but you always want your best players and goal scorers back and Jarrod has been like that this season.”
Moyes added that Bowen’s return will “really lift our spirits and the fans’ spirits” as his side look to bounce back and advance to the European semi-finals for a second successive season.
However, the Hammers might be missing suspended midfielder Lucas Paqueta.
Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen side won the Bundesliga title on Sunday and Moyes hopes the celebrations have had their effect.
“To become champions you should celebrate and enjoy it because moments go by very quickly,” said the West Ham manager.
“I hope they drank those big, gigantic pints of beer they get in Germany!”
However, Alonso said his team remained “in control”.
“It was definitely a moment to enjoy it,” he said. “On Sunday we knew we had a likelihood, so if we won, we took in the future to enjoy it.
“But since Tuesday our thoughts have been on West Ham. Now it’s the Europa League and we now have an important likelihood to make this great season even higher.”
Credit : www.bbc.co.uk
