Europa League: West Ham bank on Bowen to turn tables on Bayer Leverkusen

Jarrod Bowen looks set to win his fitness battle ahead of West Ham’s quest for a Europa League comeback against newly-crowned Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen.

The Hammers’ top scorer missed their 2-0 quarter-final first-leg defeat in Germany, and was also absent for Sunday’s dismal Premier League loss at home to Fulham, with a hip injury.

But Bowen, who has 19 goals this season, returned to training on Wednesday and hopes are high that he will be available against Leverkusen.

Manager David Moyes said: “It was great to see Jarrod out there. 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.”

The news is a major boost for the Hammers as they seek to inflict a first defeat of the season on Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen.

However, the hosts will be without key Brazilian midfielder Lucas Paqueta through suspension after he was booked in the defeat in Germany.

“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,” Moyes said.

“We’ve lost Lucas through suspension, and had Jarrod out through injury. We have to find ways of making magic happen.”

First-choice left-back Emerson Palmieiri is also suspended while centre-half Konstantinos Mavropanos is a doubt.

Leverkusen clinched a first-ever league title when they beat Werder Bremen 5-0 on Sunday sparking wild scenes at the BayArena, and Moyes hopes the celebrations went on long into the night – and might just affect them in this, their first match since.

“Rightly so, why would you not celebrate?” said Moyes. “To be the champions, you should celebrate, you should enjoy it