Southampton boss wary of £75m West Ham star ahead of must-win match | OneFootball

Simon Rusk has singled out West Ham's Jarrod Bowen for praise ahead of today's fixture.

Like it or not, Southampton don’t really have six games left, they’ve only got a couple of matches to avoid finishing with a historically low points total. And if the club fails this deadline, they will entertain another miserable forecast about them.

That’s why Southampton need to bag something against an out-of-form West Ham today. But it won't be easy for a Saints group that stands bottom not just in performance metrics, but in squad value too.

Now, surely, this market value parameter isn’t everything, but Southampton has clearly struggled against wealthier squads this season.

And that’s exactly what boss Simon Rusk warned Southampton about, as they face a star-studded lineup in West Ham today. And especially of one name, Jarrod Bowen.

This is because unlike the Saints' gimmick to value Dibling at £100m, Bowen genuinely commands a £75m valuation, and all for his consistent top-tier performances. That's why, Rusk points to Bowen as the Hammers’ go-to star of the fixture, the very man who made the difference the last time these two sides met.

Simon Rusk issues Jarrod Bowen warning ahead of West Ham trip

As quoted by the Daily Echo, Rusk cautioned his side about Bowen, saying: "We know we've got to deal with their collective and individual threat. They've got the likes of Jarrod Bowen, who, at any given moment, can turn a game on its head."

But know what's further distressing on the part of Saints' fans? It's the realization that a young Saints defence led by Taylor Harwood-Bellis is tasked to halt the Conference League-winning goal scorer in a much-needed situation.

Well, now everything's possible, maybe Bowen proves his Premier League repute again, or Harwood-Bellis makes this matchday a memory before being tipped to join Bowen at West Ham this summer.

So buckle up, this one could define what’s left of Southampton’s season. Rest assured, let’s see what this contest holds for us as Southampton fans.