Jarrod Bowen hands West Ham injury boost ahead of Europa League clash with Bayer Leverkusen

Jarrod Bowen is on track to return for West Ham's Europa League quarter-final second-leg against Bayer Leverkusen.

The club's leading scorer, with 19 goals, missed the first leg of the quarter-final in Germany due to a hip injury, as well as the Premier League defeat to Fulham at the weekend.

However, after participating in training at Rush Green, there's optimism he'll be fit to play in the crucial European tie. David Moyes expressed his pleasure at seeing Bowen train, saying: «It was great to see Jarrod out there.»

Moyes remains cautious, though, adding: «We're not sure yet. I would never risk a player if I thought they were injured but you always want your best players back in, your goalscorers as well, and Jarrod has been that this season.»

Bowen's potential comeback is timely as West Ham aim to hand Xabi Alonso's unbeaten Leverkusen their first loss of the campaign. However, the Hammers will miss Lucas Paqueta, who is out due to suspension from the previous game.

Moyes highlighted Bowen's importance: «Most people know exactly what Jarrod has done for us over the season and others. It would give us and the crowd a real lift.»

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With the absence of Paqueta and the injury to Bowen, Moyes acknowledged the need for creativity: «We've lost Lucas through suspension, and had Jarrod out through injury. We have to find ways of making magic happen.»

Leverkusen celebrated their first-ever league title after a resounding 5-0 victory over Werder Bremen on Sunday, and Moyes is hoping the festivities extended well into the week. «Rightly so, why would you not celebrate? » he quipped.

«To be