Thomas Tuchel risks being the same as all the rest after backtrack hint on West Ham star Jarrod Bowen

That’s despite a ridiculous claim from Sky Sports pundits that Ethan Nwaneri should be ahead of Bowen in Thomas Tuchel’s thoughts.

Hammers fans were not happy Tuchel snubbed both Max Kilman and Aaron Wan-Bissaka when he named his first England squad for games against Albania and Latvia.

Statistics published since then have left egg on the German’s face regarding the West Ham duo.

It has been highlighted that Wan-Bissaka has been the fifth best all around English player in the Premier League this season.

He is also the top defensive full-back and in the top five when it comes to attacking full-back stats.

Meanwhile Kilman is officially the best defender in the Premier League when it comes to not allowing opponents past him.

But West Ham do at least have Bowen in the squad.

There is already a feeling among many Hammers supporters that Bowen has deserved more game time ahead of the likes of Bukayo Saka for England.

It was revealed recently Bowen actually has better key stats than Saka in his career so far.

Given Saka has been out for several months through injury and Bowen’s consistently top form over the last five years, many expected the Hammers captain to start against Albania.

But Tuchel did what so many Three Lions bosses have done down the years and picked names and reputation over form.

He started Marcus Rashford, who has only just started getting some minutes this season since moving to Villa, and out of sorts Phil Foden in the wide positions.

Tuchel risks being the same as all the rest after Bowen backtrack

Both players were poor and were subbed off, with Bowen shining in his 16 minutes on the pitch.

The West Ham ace played a key part in the second goal, was much more aggressive in his pressing and put a number of crosses into the box.

Bowen earned a 7/10 rating for his cameo – doing more than Rashford and Foden combined in his brief time on the pitch.

After the Albania game Tuchel dropped a major Bowen hint as he tore into the performances of Rashford and Foden.

But Tuchel risks being the same as all the rest after a backtrack hint on West Ham star Bowen.

Tuchel goes from breath of fresh air to breath of hot air

For far too long England managers have picked players on name and the club they play for over their actual performances.

Tuchel looked set to be something of a breath of fresh air with his blunt honesty.

Bowen and the Hammers will be worried he’s going to be the same as his predecessors, though.

Because the England boss has already softened his stance and made something of a U-turn.

And it means Bowen might face yet another game on the bench against Latvia.

That’s despite his performances, against Albania and in wins over Greece and Ireland in the last international break, warrant better.

England boss performs U-turn on hint he’ll start Hammers star

“I’ve spoken to both of them, also in front of the group. They know that I appreciate the effort, especially off the ball,” Tuchel said of Rashford and Foden after they flopped in his first game as boss.

He then suggested he may not make changes and could even deploy the same team against Latvia, saying Rashford and Foden ‘won’t be dropped from a performance point of view’.

Although he gave Bowen a glimmer of hope by saying there are some players waiting in the wings who ‘really deserve to play’.

“It could help and I think it’s not a problem to do exactly that and start with the same line-up (vs Latvia),” he added.

“But it’s also not a problem to change because we have some players who really deserve to play and it would be also nice to see them perform and to give them the confidence.

“At the moment, no one will be dropped from a performance point of view. We did what was needed.

“We can do better and have stuff to improve and we will focus on that. If we think some fresh legs can help then we’re not shy to do it. But no one needs to be dropped because he’s not good enough.”

Fans of clubs outside the so-called “Big Six” have long grown sick of a bias in selection when it comes to the England team.

West Ham fans and supporters of clubs in the “Other 14” will be watching Tuchel’s actions for Latvia closely to see whether he backs up his big words and beliefs.

Or is it going to be Groundhog Day once again?

One man who does think Bowen should be Tuchel’s go-to man is Ally McCoist.