West Ham United's Jarrod Bowen and Chelsea's Cole Palmer were the victims of England's World Cup squad selection, according to a former scout. Bryan King, a former Tottenham, Everton, and Aston Villa scout, believes that both players would have been valuable assets to the team.
What happened?
England's World Cup campaign ended with a 6-4 victory over France in the third-place game, but the team's performance was marred by controversy over the squad selection. King, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, revealed that he thought both Palmer and Bowen deserved a place in the squad.
Why it matters for West Ham United
Jarrod Bowen had a good season in a West Ham United team that struggled to stay in the Premier League. He scored 11 goals and assisted 12 across all competitions, and King believes that he would have been a valuable asset to the England team. "Jarrod Bowen had had a good season in a team that was struggling to stay in the Premier League. I thought he deserved a place, and certainly the boy Palmer," King said.
What comes next?
The likes of Harry Kane, Jordan Henderson, and John Stones will likely be missing from the England team in 2030, but the likes of Bukayo Saka and Morgan Rogers will be in their prime. Palmer will be 28 and may well be in that squad, although he will have competition. The likes of Max Dowman and Rio Ngumoha, who are 16 and 17 at the moment, will have been playing for several seasons and could be in contention.
As of 21 July 2026, West Ham United are 18th in the Premier League, with 39 points from 38 games. They have scored 46 goals and conceded 65, with a -19 goal difference. They are 46 points behind leaders Arsenal in the title race, with a recent form of WLLLW.
King's comments come as a blow to the England team, who were criticized for their squad selection. The team's performance in the World Cup was marred by controversy, and King's comments will only add fuel to the fire. West Ham United fans will be hoping that their team will learn from the mistakes of the England team and make the necessary changes to improve their chances of success in the future.
