In Gareth Southgate’s England roster, Jarrod Bowen has secured his place, yet his West Ham United compatriot, James Ward-Prowse, remains absent.
Bowen, at the age of 26, has commenced the season with a splendid display, netting five goals in just seven Premier League fixtures.
Regrettably, Ward-Prowse’s impressive start at West Ham, following his transfer from Southampton in the summer, has not merited him a spot in the lineup. The 28-year-old has managed to notch two goals and contribute three assists in a mere six appearances for his new club. Nonetheless, he won’t be donning the national colors for the upcoming encounters against Australia and Italy later this month.
Bowen’s most recent international stint was in June 2022, during which he featured prominently in all four of the team’s Nations League fixtures. In contrast, Ward-Prowse made a solitary appearance against Italy during the same period, which marked his last outing for the national squad. In total, the midfielder has earned 11 caps for his country.
England is set to host Australia in a friendly clash on Friday, October 13, followed by a European Championship qualifier against Italy four days later in north-west London. Italy, currently occupying second place in Group C, trails England by six points, albeit they have played one match less. A victory against Malta, followed by a triumph against Southgate’s side by a margin of more than one goal, could propel Italy past the English team in the group standings.
