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Jarrod Bowen feels like he has returned to the England set-up in the form of his life as the West Ham forward prepares fulfil a childhood dream of playing at Wembley.<\/p>\n
Having come through at Hereford and flourished at Hull, the 26-year-old is well on the way to club great status at the London Stadium.<\/p>\n
Bowen fired the Hammers to Europa Conference League glory in June\u2019s unforgettable final against Fiorentina and has shone in the early stages of this season, scoring five in nine appearances.<\/p>\n
That form helped the forward to earn his first England call-up since September 2022, shortly before signing a new deal until 2030 at the London Stadium.<\/p>\n
\u201cA really special week,\u201d Bowen said. \u201cObviously got the call on Thursday before our European game so had that. Won that game out there, which was nice.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen the new deal was sorted over the weekend, so a really special four days.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve always wanted to be back so to get the opportunity to be selected again is something I\u2019m really grateful for.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bowen\u2019s four England appearances to date came during the worst international camp of Gareth Southgate\u2019s largely successful reign.<\/p>\n
The 26-year-old featured in all four Nations League matches in June 2022, starting the 1-0 away loss to Hungary and 4-0 Molineux mauling against the same opposition.<\/p>\n
Bowen remained in the squad that September but did not play, and his return did not come until this month\u2019s double-header against Australia and Italy.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe way I started this season I\u2019m probably playing the best football that I\u2019ve played in my career,\u201d Bowen said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve had those experiences of Europe. It\u2019s a bit different to when I came (before).<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m a dad now, so I\u2019m in a different kind of place, you just feel a bit more mature. I feel in a really good place and to be back here, I\u2019m really grateful for it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Southgate has indicated Bowen will play in Friday\u2019s Wembley friendly against Australia, allowing him to fulfil his ambition of stepping out under the arch.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat would be the ultimate,\u201d he said. \u201cI have got four caps and I am massively grateful for them but that Wembley one\u2026<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a little boy you dream of playing for your country and you never think it is going to happen but now I am here I want to play at Wembley and hopefully I get the opportunity to do so.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bowen got the nod in a highly competitive area of the squad, with 82-cap forward Raheem Sterling among those to miss out.<\/p>\n
Little wonder, then, that he is determined to make the most out this chance to earn a spot at next summer\u2019s Euros, especially after the disappointment of watching the World Cup in Qatar from afar.<\/p>\n
Asked if missing out on the squad motivates him for Germany next summer, Bowen said: \u201cYeah, but I think you\u2019ve also got to look at the squad that\u2019s here as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust being named in the squad was an honour for me. To play the games I played and to be named in another squad before the World Cup was, again, another honour.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was disappointed to miss out but I had to deal with it and all I could do is keep playing football to a level that I know that I can play at and everything will take care of itself.\u201d<\/p>\n