Last week, new England manager Lee Carsley announced the England national team squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League matches and made a surprising decision. West Ham star Jarrod Bowen was left omitted from the matchday squad despite making a couple of good substitute cameos against the Republic of Ireland and Finland in last month's international break. The decision stems from the fact that West Ham hasn't had a good start to the new season and star forward Bowen couldn't score in the recent league matches similar to his other teammates in the attack.
However the West Ham captain gave a great response after his omission from the national team by scoring a goal and assisting twice in a huge 4-1 win against Ipswich Town at the London Stadium. Moreover this all-round playmaking display from the 27-year-old highlights that the interim manager made a big mistake with his team selection to face Greece and Finland in the upcoming two weeks. Now former Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor has suggested that Gareth Southgate's successor Lee Carsley should rethink and make a U-turn after his surprising decision to leave Bowen out of the England squad, saying,
Gabby Agbonlahor suggests Lee Carsley should make a U-turn on surprising decision
"He has just got to do that every week now, every week, and he has to think to himself, goal and assist, goal and assist, and there’s no reason why he can’t get back into that England squad, but I thought he was outstanding against Ipswich, one of the best games I have seen him."Gabby Agbonlahor
Moreover, Carsley's three selected players Morgan Gibbs-White, Ezri Konsa and Kobbie Mainoo have recently picked up injuries and have communicated their decision to withdraw themselves from this month's international break. Therefore, three new slots have been created in the squad with a playmaker role open as well following Gibbs-White's injury which can lead Carsley into making a U-turn and re-calling Bowen into the squad. Moreover, among other forwards Anthony Gordon has struggled to build on his brilliant previous season form for both club and country, therefore Bowen could be a much better option as a second choice right-wing option after Arsenal star Bukayo Saka.
Now it remains to be seen whether Carsley decides to integrate Bowen as part of his plans as England's manager following several injuries to players in Carsley's initial matchday squad.