Michael Owen urges Thomas Tuchel to make far more use of 20-cap forward with just one England goal

Michael Owen has admitted one player in the England squad took his breath away with his finishing ability – and it’s not Harry Kane.

The 2001 Ballon d’Or winner has urged Thomas Tuchel to make far more use of Jarrod Bowen, who has just six caps under the German.

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The West Ham captain has been a consistent shining light for the Hammers this season, playing both right-wing and as a central striker.

Bowen boasts 10 goals and seven assists across all competitions this season (eight and six in the Premier League) despite his side spending nearly the entire campaign in the relegation zone.

However, the 29-year-old has never quite replicated his West Ham form for England, despite earning 20 international caps.

Bowen has scored just one goal for his country, in a 5-0 Nations League win over the Republic of Ireland in November, 2024.

In his defence, the forward has made seven England starts in total, only two of which have come in his six appearances under Tuchel.

Danny Dyer told talkSPORT in 2024 that suggestions that the Three Lions’ first-choice, Bukayo Saka, is superior to Bowen are a ‘myth’.

And Owen conceded that the latter should be getting more of a look-in by Tuchel, after watching the Irons skipper up close.

When discussing his one World Cup wildcard pick for England this summer, the former England, Liverpool, and Real Madrid striker exclusively told talkSPORT.com, via casino.org: “Max Dowman’s obviously been mentioned, hasn’t he?

“I think it’s too early for him unless he goes and shoots the lights out for the last 10 games of the season and starts every game, but I can’t see that happening.

“Someone like Jarrod Bowen; I know the question was who can make the squad, and he’s already in there, but personally, I would make far more use of Bowen.”

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Tuchel told to make more use of Bowen

“I think he’s brilliant, absolutely brilliant,” Owen continued while discussing West Ham’s number 20.

“I did a finishing masterclass with him about a year ago, and I couldn’t believe how good he was.

“It took my breath away to see how good of a finisher he was up close.

“He uses both feet so well, and then I’ve watched him really closely since that day, and I just think he should be being made a lot more use of than he does under Thomas Tuchel.”

Bowen, who missed out on the England squad for the 2022 World Cup, featured as a substitute in the first two group-stage games of Euro 2024 before spending the rest of the tournament on the bench.

He was left out of Tuchel’s squad last June, before earning a recall at the start of this season and has retained his spot ever since.

Ironically, that is the exact opposite situation facing Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has been absent from England since last summer’s camp.

The right-back was left out of the 35-man squad for the upcoming internationals against Uruguay and Japan despite Reece James‘ injury issues and Kyle Walker‘s recent international retirement.

To add insult to injury, Alexander-Arnold was then snubbed again when his ex-Liverpool teammate Jarell Quansah withdrew, and Ben White instead returned to the England fold for the first time since 2022.

Trent ‘isn’t fitting into the way Tuchel is playing’

“For Trent, it’s been tough with the last few managers because he doesn’t seem to have gained their trust,” Owen added to talkSPORT.

“Whether it’s been Southgate or Tuchel now, he just hasn’t been able to have a good run in the team, and right now, not being in the squad, I fear he may not make it. At this stage, not being in the squad is obviously a bad sign for him.

“That being said, for me, Trent is a very good player; you don’t go to Real Madrid, win Premier Leagues and Champions Leagues if you’re not.

“He just isn’t fitting into the way Tuchel is playing, which is a shame. Reece James, if fit, would be the choice for me to start full back for England.”