When Eddie Howe talked up the game-changing abilities of one West Ham United talent ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash at the London Stadium, most would be forgiven for presuming the Newcastle boss was speaking about Jarrod Bowen.
Even during the 2-1 defeat at Leeds which deepened West Ham United woes last time out, it was their talismanic captain who provided one extremely raw moment of genuine quality.
Mateus Fernandes opened his Hammers account with the first headed goal of his senior career. But it was a sumptuous cross by Jarrod Bowen, with his trusty left foot, which finally broke the resistance of a Leeds side who had kept their visitors at arms’ length until that point.
As demonstrated by the fact they have triumphed just once across ten games this season, Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad is short of genuine matchwinners. The always-unpredictable Lucas Paqueta scored in three straight West Ham matches but is now on a run of none in six.
Nuno is a big fan of Crysencio Summerville, although it is over a year now since he last found the net.
Much to the bemusement of many fans and a number of former players – Tony Cottee was baffled by Nuno’s team selection at Elland Road – Callum Wilson continues to start on the bench despite the injury-enforced absence of Niclas Fullkrug.
Wilson provided exactly 100 goals in 282 appearances under Eddie Howe at Newcastle and Bournemouth, though. Ahead of Sunday’s reunion, presuming Wilson features either from the start or the bench, Howe insists that his Magpies backline must keep their eyes peeled up against a centre-forward who, even at the age of 33, is still capable of popping up in the right place at the right time.
Eddie Howe warns Newcastle about West Ham United striker Callum Wilson
After Nuno told West Ham to pursue striking reinforcements during the January transfer window – Hammers News have been told he wants a more athletic option up top – an end to Wilson’s backseat role appears unlikely as long as the new head coach remains at the helm.
Wilson has featured only once under Nuno, and that came at Leeds after Ollie Scarles was forced off due to a dislocated shoulder.
Howe, though, knows better than most what his former talisman can do should the ball fall his way inside the penalty area.
“It will be great to see Callum,” Howe said during his press conference on Friday morning. “I think, most importantly, we have a job to do against him.
“I think I’ve said many times in this position how good I think he is, and his qualities as a player are undoubted. So, again, for our defenders and for for our whole team, we need to be concentrated against him because it’s just one moment, one lapse in concentration, and he will punish you.
“So, I look forward to seeing him and embracing him after the game. But it’s about working and trying to stop him.”
Howe hails Nuno Espirito Santo’s attacking options
Wilson and young Callum Marshall are the only centre-forwards at West Ham’s disposal right now. Nuno confirmed that Niclas Fullkrug is not ready to return from a thigh problem, though next week’s proverbial six-pointer with Burnley is a possibility.
“A bit of change there [at West Ham]. I think the thing I’d say from looking at the squad, they’ve got a group of very good players. There’s no doubting the quality of the players they have, especially in the attacking areas,” Howe adds.
“I mean, we’re going to have our work cut out keeping a good defensive structure and making sure that we limit the space for all their attacking talent.
“Our away form has not been strong enough. We know that. That’s something we want to rectify and put right, and we are working hard to do that in this game.
“Whenever you go to the London Stadium, it’s a difficult ground to go to. We don’t underestimate West Ham in any way. This will be a game where we have to be good in all aspects of our play and continue our good form.”
The London Stadium appears ‘a tough place to go’ for those living locally in East London at the moment, more so than those travelling from further afield anyway.
West Ham have won only three home matches in the Premier League in this calendar year.
