Jarrod Bowen uses one word to describe Newcastle United ahead West Ham United clash
Newcastle United visit West Ham United in the Premier League this evening.
West Ham United captain Jarrod Bowen has previewed tonight’s Premier League clash against Newcastle United (kick-off 8pm).
The Hammers host Newcastle hoping to record a third consecutive victory, as well as record a Premier League double over their visitors after goals from Tomas Soucek and Aaron Wan Bissaka earned a 2-0 win at St James’ Park in November.
Eddie Howe’s side, meanwhile, have lost three of their last four league games and results elsewhere over the weekend mean they have dropped from sixth to ninth in the table.
What Jarrod Bowen has said about Newcastle United
But the Magpies are unbeaten on their last five trips to the London Stadium, with their last midweek visit ending in a 5-1 win. Bowen is expecting to face a “strong” United side.
Penning his programme notes, Bowen wrote: “We play Newcastle and are looking to complete our first Premier League ‘double’ of the season, having won 2-0 at St James’ Park before Christmas.
“That was one of our best performances of the season and showed what we are capable of. The same can be said of our last two games against Arsenal and Leicester, when we registered deserved wins, kept valuable clean sheets and collected six points.
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“We’d obviously love to make it three wins in a row on Monday night and, if we all do our jobs as well as we have done in those matches, with your support, we can do it.
“Newcastle are a strong side, with some really good individuals we’ll work hard to stop, but we have huge quality in our squad and we need to concentrate on what we have to do right, individually and collectively, to win the game.”
Jarrod Bowen almost signed for Newcastle United
Had things worked out differently then Bowen could have been lining up in black and white tonight.
Steve Bruce, who first signed the 28-year-old for Hull City from non-league side Hereford, attempted to reunite with him on Tyneside in January 2020 but Newcastle - owned by Mike Ashley at the time - to sanction a deal.
Explaining the tale, Bowen told Sky Sports: "He said it as well. Sometimes when you say things and you don't get backed up, you look a little bit like you're lying almost.
"He signed me for Hull from Hereford. He always said he paid money for me, but he never did because I was on a free, which I never understand.
"He gave me the opportunity at Hull and was great with me. He gave me a start in my journey at a club like Hull, which, at the time, was an incredible feeling. I had a really good five or six years there and, then, that deadline day, he tried to sign me at Newcastle.
"I almost thought I was going there. It was pretty nailed on - it was almost done - but then they wouldn't pay the money and West Ham swooped in.
"I was waiting at the services thinking, 'Am I going north or am I going south?' I ended up going south and I've never looked back since.”
West Ham paid a fee totalling around £20million for Bowen, which has proven to be an inspired move. Bowen has made 227 appearances and scored 68 goals, including the winner in the Europa Conference final. He now captains the club.