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Jarrod Bowen would have been dealt a welcome relief as he sat back on the sofa to reflect on a job well done for West Ham this season, then receiving a call telling him he'd been called up for England.

It has proven to be a 'nearly' campaign for the plucky Hammers as they were beaten to Europa League qualification by Manchester United after missing out on a place in the final of the same competition. That must have been tough to take as semi-final opponents Eintracht Frankfurt went on to lift the trophy.

Heartache for Bowen and his West Ham teammates, but they will come again domestically - and in the Conference League - after upsetting the regular order over these last two campaigns. They could bolster that charge by winning the race to sign departing United star Jesse Lingard on a free transfer.

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If that man Lingard was the difference for David Moyes in the second half of the 2020/2021 season - when scoring nine goals and providing five assists in 16 appearances during a memorable loan spell - then the baton was well and truly picked up by 'unfancied' Bowen this term. His reward was a rather symbolic one, too.

When picking up the phone after the final day on Sunday night he was not being sold a needless item or insurance; he was being sold the dream by Gareth Southgate. In a campaign which promised so much and ended up with West Ham falling narrowly short, Bowen earned his biggest achievement to date with a maiden England call-up.

Coincidentally, that came at the expense of Lingard and United players, Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford. Cue suggestions that the bridesmaid has finally become the bride.

Such is the