Jarrod Bowen has expressed a bit of disappointment over his limited playing time during the Euros, though he treasures the moments he did get to contribute on the field.

As West Ham’s newly appointed captain, Bowen is eager to feature in tonight’s Nations League Group F clash between England and Ireland at the Aviva Stadium. The winger has embraced his leadership role at West Ham and is determined to catch the eye of interim England manager Lee Carsley, especially given his desire for more playing opportunities.

Despite being involved in an impressive 30 goals for West Ham last season, Bowen found himself underutilised by Gareth Southgate during the Euros. Although the lack of game time has been frustrating, he’s immensely proud of the opportunity to represent England at such a high level.

If I said I was happy with not playing, I’d be lying. Every player wants to be on the pitch as much as possible,” Bowen told *Standard Sport*. “But the minutes I did get, I’ll always treasure. Playing in a major tournament for my country is something no one can take away from me. I don’t view it as a negative, but as a valuable experience that I learned from.”

One of the key themes surrounding the tournament was the intense pressure placed on England’s players, which sometimes led to public criticism and abuse. An ad campaign featuring Joy Division’s *Love Will Tear Us Apart* even highlighted the issue. Bowen acknowledged the criticism but said it didn’t have a significant impact on him personally. “You can’t speak for everyone; everyone reacts differently to negativity,” he explained. “We’re not living in isolation, we see what’s on social media.”