Jarrod Bowen helped West Ham beat Cypriot side AEK Larnaca to reach the last eight of the Europa Conference League – and then admitted he needed to improve his form to regain his England place.
Bowen struck twice at the beginning of the second half to take his overall tally to eight across two European campaigns as he became the Hammers’ leading European goalscorer.
It came a few hours after the 26-year-old forward had been left out of Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the Euro 2024 qualifiers against Italy and Ukraine later this month.
“I’ve done nothing to get in there,” said Bowen, who played four times for England in June 2022, but was not included in the Three Lions squad for the World Cup in Qatar in November.
“It’s one of those things, these things take care of themselves.
“It’s not about getting in squads, it’s about playing my ‘A’ game, finishing strongly and going again next season.
“I always want to score and goals have not been coming this season, but I accept that. I will always give my all for the club.”
The victory equalled West Ham’s biggest in Europe as, for the second season running, they reached the quarter-finals of a European competition.
However, this success was far removed from the memorable and nail-biting extra-time triumph over Sevilla in the last-16 of last season’s Europa League.
Two down from the first-leg, Larnaca were outclassed at the London Stadium as the Hammers strolled to victory.
The Cypriots gifted the opening goal to Gianluca Scamacca and then had Gustavo Ledes sent off just before the break for a poor challenge on Pablo Fornals that was upgraded from a yellow card to red following a video assistant referee intervention.
Bowen took the home side further clear. His second in particular was impressive as he looped a header from Aaron Creswell’s cross over the Larnaca keeper and into the corner for his 10th goal of the season, although only four have come in the Premier League.
West Ham’s victory was rounded off by 18-year-old local boy Divin Mubama, who has been with the club since he was eight and scored his first senior goal on only his third first-team appearance.
