Michail Antonio thinks West Ham teammate isn’t enjoying where he’s playing right now

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Michail Antonio has admitted that he is not sure that Jarrod Bowen is enjoying his current role in the West Ham United side.

Antonio was speaking on The Footballer’s Football Podcast as he suggested that he can definitely see the England international becoming a striker more permanently.

Jarrod Bowen has led the line in three of West Ham’s last four league games. The 26-year-old has been in sensational form this season, scoring eight goals in the top-flight.

Michail Antonio doesn’t think Jarrod Bowen is enjoying playing up front for West Ham

Two of those goals have come since being moved into the striker position. So David Moyes perhaps faces a tough decision over what to do with Bowen in the future.

Bowen has been superb out on the wing throughout his time at the London Stadium. Antonio has previously tipped him to be a replacement for Mohamed Salah at Liverpool. His record of 83 goal involvements in 175 games in all competitions for the Hammers is outstanding.

Antonio believes that Bowen will feature more prominently in the striker position moving forward. However, he is not convinced that his teammate is as happy leading the line.

“Honestly, I think he’s got the ability to do it. I think he’s got the qualities of a striker. He’s strong, he’s good on the ball, can come in deep, collect it. Another thing you said, he scores goals,” he told The Footballer’s Football Podcast.

“Yeah definitely. I think that he’ll probably end up there because obviously his quality and nous to always be in the right position, know where to be in the box. And he’s got an unbelievable finish about him. So I do feel like he could become a striker.

“I don’t think he enjoys it right now. He doesn’t get as much of the ball as he did out wide. And when you’re playing centre forward, you’ve got two centre halves constantly at your back. Whereas when you’re on the wide, you can drift into places and be unseen.”

Hammers desperately need a new striker

You would imagine that Moyes would ideally not play Bowen up front. He has been so influential out on the wing. But West Ham have simply not had enough goals from their strikers.

Antonio has scored twice in the Premier League. Meanwhile, Danny Ings is yet to open his account in the top-flight this season. And his contributions when coming off the bench have hardly left Moyes with food for thought.

West Ham fans will hope that the club go out and land a marquee striker in the January transfer window or in the summer.

But the good news is that Bowen appears to be capable of really helping the side out right now.