GOOD NEWS-West Ham duo could return from injury v Leverkusen, Bowen update drops – report

West Ham United injury update ahead of must-win Leverkusen clash

West Ham United injury update ahead of must-win Leverkusen

West Ham could welcome back some key names for their Europa League clash against Bayer Leverkusen at the London Stadium, according to The Standard.

The newspaper has reported that Alphonse Areola and Kalvin Phillips could both be in line to return ahead of 18 April’s must-win match, having both missed the 2-0 loss in the first leg.

Neither Areola or Phillips have featured since the Hammers’ 4-3 loss at Newcastle in March, while star forward Jarrod Bowen is more likely to return against Liverpool following a hip injury.

West Ham will struggle to turn tide without Jarrod Bowen
West Ham United’s progression to the Europa League quarter-finals has been due to the performances of players like Bowen, who scored the winner in last year’s UEFA Conference League final to ensure qualification for this season’s tournament.

The 27-year-old has also been in imperious form this season, netting 19 goals across 40 appearances in all competitions – 15 of which have come in the Premier League.

Minus his attacking output on the left-hand side of their attack, West Ham were extremely limited in the first leg and managed just one shot in 90 minutes – from Mohammed Kudus.

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Bowen, who scored the winner in the UEFA Conference League final, will be a huge miss for West Ham.
Instead, David Moyes reinforced his defence by picking two left-backs in Emerson and Aaron Cresswell, but that didn’t do much to stop Leverkusen from firing off 33 shots at the BayArena, scoring twice as the Irons were finally opened up by two late set-pieces.

With West Ham needing to attack from the off to maintain any hope of turning the tie around – against a side unbeaten in all competitions no less – they simply need Bowen to be fit and firing at the London Stadium.

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But, the prediction that Bowen won’t be ready to return until the Hammers face Liverpool in the Premier League on 27 April, it could be a long night ahead for Moyes and his side, regardless of the Scotsman’s belief that they can produce a comeback victory.

In other news, a new update has emerged surrounding the Hammers’ pursuit of Brentford forward Ivan Toney this summer.

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