- The West Ham captain has been injured since breaking his foot in December
- Jarrod Bowen has returned to training on the pitch in a boost to Graham Potter
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Jarrod Bowen has taken another step towards a much-needed return as the West Ham captain looks to boost his side's injury crisis.
The Hammers captain has been out since December with a broken foot, but is now back training on the pitch and Mail Sport understands he will soon start kicking a ball again.
Graham Potter revealed last week that Bowen had been jogging with a physiotherapist and was “ahead of schedule” and sources close to the player say he has taken a “big step in the right direction” towards getting back to full fitness.
Bowen was originally expected to be out for six weeks after suffering the injury in the defeat to Liverpool at the end of last month, but he recovered much quicker than expected.
West Ham take on Chelsea on Monday night before a two-week break until their next game with the club outside the FA Cup.
“He's doing everything he can to get on the pitch as soon as possible,” West Ham manager Graham Potter said last week. “We just have to make sure it's a safe way, and it's a good way for him because we want to get him back and we want him to stay behind.”
Jarrod Bowen has taken another step in his return from injury after being out since December
The Hammers captain has been out since December with a broken foot, but is now back training on the pitch.
'You know, Jarrod, he wants to be out there, he wants to play and we're trying to pull the reins on him and not the other way around. It's great to have you here.
“He's just struggling and wants to go out and help, but he just has to take his medication right now and do his rehab properly.”
“Today he went running with the individual physiotherapist, so it's positive. I think if I look at it now, Jarrod will be ahead instead of behind.'
A quick return for Bowen would do wonders to alleviate the attacking injury crisis at the club.
West Ham have only one fit striker, Danny Ings, and Potter has started his first two Premier League games in charge without a recognized centre-forward on the pitch, opting instead to play Lucas Paqueta or Mohammed Kudus in the lead.
Hammers boss Graham Potter is eagerly awaiting Bowen's return amid his side's current injury crisis.
Summer signing Niclas Fullkrug missed three months with an Achilles injury and will now spend an extended period on the sidelines with a hamstring problem, striker Michail Antonio is still recovering from his car accident and winger Crysencio Summerville has missed the last two games.
The Hammers are desperate to sign a striker in January and have targeted a host of forwards, including Fulham's Rodrio Muniz, Brighton's Evan Ferguson, RB Leipzig's Andre Silva and Nottingham Forest centre-forward Taiwo Awoniyi.