Jarrod Bowen was named as West Ham's lone striker for the UEFA Europa League win on Thursday evening after David Moyes opted to hand Michail Antonio a rest.
West Ham fans have been clamouring for Moyes to sign another striker since the departure of Sebastien Haller in January but after two transfer windows the Hammers remain without a replacement for the Ivorian.
The manager has repeatedly said he does not want to sign someone for the sake of it and will only bring in the man he believes is the right fit for the club and if that does not materialise, he is happy with the options at his disposal.
Both Bowen and Andriy Yarmolenko have been name-checked as replacements for Antonio when the striker is unavailable or in need of a rest with Bowen getting the nod on three occasions so far this season.
Bowen got himself his first goal in European football last night but admitted he should have had more.
"I should have had one in the first half. Even the one I scored I probably didn't finish it right but I said before the game I bet I'll score when I scuff it" he told BT Sport. "But if you don't shoot you don't score. I'm buzzing with my first Europa League goal."
Bowen's versatility is a trait much admired by Moyes and the attacker was asked what is his preferred position.
"I always preferred [playing] off the right because obviously that is more natural but upfront you feel like you can, not do what you want, but run in behind, play on both sides [whereas] when you are on the right you get on the ball and cut inside.
"But when you are upfront you can run in the left-hand side, the right-hand side, drop off, go through the middle and I feel like I am improving playing in that position.
"Obviously there were a couple of times when I was in that position where the ball came up to me as a target man and that is just not my game at all and they [the Genk defenders] just kept heading the ball but wherever [I play] I just love it, I just love playing so upfront, right-wing, wherever [it does not matter]."
Such is Bowen's importance to the team, only Declan Rice and Aaron Cresswell have played more minutes than him so far this season and nobody has started more games than the former Hull man.
Bowen has been involved in all 12 of the Hammers games so far this season, something only Pablo Fornals can also say, although the Spaniard has played over 100 minutes less than Bowen.
With his ability to play across all the attacking positions, Bowen has nailed down a starting spot in the West Ham team this season and become a key player for Moyes, with the 24-year-old determined both he and the team will keep progressing.
"We'll keep pushing," he said. "We're winning games so that makes the players keep wanting to put the performances in."
