Pablo Zabaleta has told the All to Play for Podcast that he used to want to ‘smash’ West Ham United’s Jarrod Bowen in training.
Bowen and Zabaleta only played together at West Ham for a few months, but the winger made a lasting impression on the Argentine.
Indeed Zabaleta admits that he used to try and rough Bowen up in training, but the 24-year-old simply never shied away from the challenge.
“Bowen, he came from Hull in the Championship! He is the player who in training you want to smash him,” Zabaleta said.
“He’s so quick and sharp on the ball. He is very skillful. We used to smash him, and he never complained about anything, he’d just come up again. ‘Give me the ball again, I will go against you again’.
“At West Ham that’s the players that you need. West Ham is made for those players.”
Bowen has certainly impressed since moving to West Ham from Hull City, after coping with the step up comfortably.
The attacker has proven a reliable source of goals, and he is a constant threat due to his pace and work ethic.
With David Moyes in charge, Bowen is exactly the sort of player who the Scot values.
His form has helped West Ham emerge as top four contenders, with the London club now seriously pushing for a Champions League spot.
West Ham are next in action against Newcastle United at the weekend, when Bowen is likely to receive more game time.
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