Jarrod Bowen enjoyed an outstanding 2021-22 season with West Ham United.
Voted the club’s Player of the Season by his team-mates, Bowen, 25, hit double figures for both goals and assists in the Premier League, a feat matched only by Liverpool ’s Mohamed Salah.
The ex-Hereford and Hull City star also played a key role in the Irons’ run to the semi-final of the Europa League, fully justifying his first call up to the England squad for the upcoming quartet of Nations League fixtures.
Asked why he had included Bowen in his squad upon its announcement last week, England boss Gareth Southgate answered: “Constantly strong performances. We were certainly thinking about involving him in March before he got injured.
“He’s a goal threat and his direct journey is an interesting reminder that you don’t have to be at an elite academy – experience is a great route to go. He works incredibly hard for the team, which we want all our players to do. He thoroughly deserves his call-up.”
And while Bowen has emerged as one of the Premier League’s hottest properties on the field, his private life has become quite the talking point, due to his celebrity partner, Dani Dyer, the ex-Love Island star and daughter of Eastenders actor Danny, a massive Hammers fan.
Her father has seen the funny side of West Ham fans’ crude chant about the pair, while there were engagement rumours surrounding the pair earlier this month, with one newspaper article claiming Bowen had splashed £10k on an engagement ring and was preparing to propose ‘at the end of the season’ - as though it was his own transfer swoop.
However, he insisted on Tuesday that that is not the case and that contrary to rumours, he has not got another big day lined up aside from his Three Lions debut.
“No, people thought I was engaged but I don’t know where that came from,” he smiles.
Instead, less than a year on from watching England as a fan at Wembley during Euro 2020, Bowen will have to make do with making his Three Lions bow.
"It is everything," he said. "It is everything you dream of when you're growing up and to get the call, obviously it is an honour and a privilege."
England have four fixtures in the coming two weeks, in which Bowen, if he can make a splash, can put himself firmly in contention for a place at the World Cup in Qatar later this year.
"Of course I have thought about it [the World Cup]," Bowen admitted. "For me it is not about just to come and go, it is my first camp. The Nations League is a great tournament as well and you want to be successful in every tournament."
