West Ham United head into Saturday’s game with Sunderland with renewed confidence.
While this West Ham United team clearly have a lot more to do, the manner of their victories over QPR and Tottenham in the FA Cup and the Premier League have raised fresh hope.
Though Nuno Espirito Santo’s side weren’t brilliant in those games, they dug deep and found late winners after a setback.
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There’s still an awful lot left to prove, but that kind of spirit will be crucial in the battles to come.
That, coupled with the quality in the West Ham United squad, may yet save them.
Indeed, it’s easy to forget that Nuno does boast some very impressive talent in his squad, such have been the results this season.
Ahead of West Ham’s game against Sunderland, however, opposite number Regis Le Bris picked out a potential game changer.
Regis Le Bris says West Ham star Jarrod Bowen is a game changer
West Ham’s defeat to Sunderland in August was a bleak affair.
Graham Potter’s side were thrashed on Wearside and fell to a 3-0 loss that largely set the tone for the whole campaign thus far.
Still, Le Bris is wary of the danger that the Hammers pose.
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Speaking during his pre-match press conference, the Frenchman was asked about the danger men in the West Ham ranks.
Asked about potential game changers, he admitted that Jarrod Bowen is one.
“It’s always about key moments,” he said.
“You can be really well organised and adaptive with high intensity. Even when you do things well, your opponent can hurt you because they have game changers and Jarrod Bowen is a good example.”
Photo by Kevin Hodgson/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesJarrod Bowen needs to step up for West Ham against Sunderland
There can clearly be no doubting Bowen’s importance to the cause. He put in a brilliant shift against Tottenham last time out, one that perhaps goes under the radar because he didn’t score or assist.
Bowen has called for the West Ham fans to stick with the team, and he needs to fulfil his end of the bargain.
To limit his contributions to only goals and assists feels disrespectful to all he’s done for the club.
It is worth noting, however, that he’s currently on a run of four games without a goal. Saturday would be a good time to end that.
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