Jarrod Bowen Likely To Boost West Ham In Europa League Clash Against Leverkusen

West Ham United's hopes for a dramatic turnaround in their Europa League quarter-final against Bayer Leverkusen have been significantly boosted with the news that Jarrod Bowen, the team's leading scorer, is likely to be fit for the crucial match. Bowen, who has netted 19 goals this season, missed the first-leg defeat in Germany and the Premier League loss to Fulham due to a hip injury. However, his participation in Wednesday's training session at West Ham's Rush Green HQ has raised optimism about his availability for the upcoming clash.

Manager David Moyes expressed his delight at seeing Bowen back on the training ground but remained cautious about confirming his star forward's return. Moyes emphasized the importance of having top players like Bowen, especially for their goal-scoring abilities, but clarified he would not risk playing him if there were any lingering injury concerns. The potential return of Bowen comes at a critical time as West Ham faces the challenge of overturning a 2-0 deficit against the newly crowned Bundesliga champions.

However, West Ham will be without Lucas Paqueta, a key figure in their midfield, due to suspension following a booking in the first leg in Germany. Moyes acknowledged the impact of Paqueta's absence and Bowen's injury on the team but remained hopeful of creating memorable moments despite these setbacks. Additionally, West Ham will miss left-back Emerson Palmieri through suspension and may also be without centre-half Konstantinos Mavropanos due to doubts over his fitness.

Leverkusen's recent triumph in securing their first league title in history was also highlighted by Moyes, who humorously hoped that their celebrations might extend into the week and potentially affect their performance against West Ham. Leverkusen celebrated their Bundesliga victory with a 5-0 win over Werder Bremen, marking a historic moment for the club.

Goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski, set to celebrate his 39th birthday on Thursday, shared his belief in West Ham's ability to stage comebacks based on past experiences. He referenced a memorable game against Tottenham in 2020 when West Ham came back from a 3-0 deficit to draw 3-3 as an example of the team's resilience and spirit. Fabianski's comments underline the confidence within the squad drawn from their history of overcoming challenges.

The anticipation for Thursday's game is high as West Ham aims to leverage their experience and potentially welcome back key players like Jarrod Bowen. The team faces a formidable opponent in Bayer Leverkusen but remains hopeful of making an unlikely comeback in the Europa League.