Jarrod Bowen needs to be moved up top to try and find his spark again.

While Bowen’s stats aren’t as bad this season as some would have you believe, the eye test will tell you he’s been far from his best. Particularly over the last couple of months, Bowen just hasn’t been his usual self. He seems to just not be able to do much of what made him so pivotal for the Hammers for so long.

For me, the most frustrating thing has been his inability to beat a man. It feels like he just runs in a straight line, into the defender, and loses possession each time.

After 6 great years, it’s fair enough that he’s had a dip in form – it happens to even the best – but West Ham desperately need him back to performing at his best.

While there are obvious drawbacks, we’ve seen just how effective the skipper can be up top, with him having a better goal scoring record there than on the right. In the two-forwards system we saw prior to Pablo’s injury, we could get the best of his goalscoring record while also allowing him to still have that creative edge to provide for Taty. 

Something clearly isn’t working for Bowen in this system (I personally believe it’s how slow Wan-Bissaka is to get back, forcing him to play deeper), and moving him central may be what he needs and, more importantly, what the club needs to turn this dire situation around.