Jarrod Bowen was one small detail away from living out his ultimate dream on his England debut. Pulling on the famous Three Lions badge was a fairytale experience for the West Ham star, as it is for plenty of people throughout the land.
Pretty much anyone who grew up as a football fanatic the late 1990s and early 2000s had one thing on their mind; to become the next David Beckham and wear the No.7 for England. Of course, Beckham also wore it with distinction for Manchester United and Bowen came so close against Hungary to doing so for England.
He had to settle for another shirt number, but that will matter little to the England newcomer, even if he was on the right-wing for his country. Yet it was Bowen's post-match comments that might have most caught the eye for United supporters before their impending rebuild this summer.
READ MORE: Jarrod Bowen reveals Manchester United favourite was his football hero growing up
"I followed Manchester United a bit growing up, as well, but I think I more followed him because I thought he was cool. Him growing up, me supporting Manchester United, trying to copy him with that picture and, as soon as I got sent it, I knew it was going out."
Bowen might have dropped the Beckham-inspired mohawk these days, but with a first ever winter World Cup in Qatar on the horizon, he has every chance to claim Beckham's position for the current crop. It comes with Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford among those waiting in the wings following their latest snub from Gareth Southgate's squad.
While off-field styles have changed and Beckham continues to roll with them, so too have on-field trends and that man Bowen is indicative of that. These days you can substitute traditional wingers renowned for crossing, for inverted forwards who seek to offer a goal-threat as much as a supply line.
Bowen fits into the latter bracket, yet even his modern stance would not have stopped the left-footer from trying and trying to replicate that Beckham free-kick scored against Greece at Old Trafford.
Having steadily progressed following his £19million transfer from Hull City to the Hammers in January 2020, Bowen underlined his burgeoning reputation with 12 goals and 12 assists this season. His price tag raised eyebrows at the time, yet his stock is now on an upward trajectory.
Manchester City are fully aware of that after Bowen put in a sensational performance against them to give them a few title jitters just before the end of the season. The 25-year-old has quite simply made a mockery of suggestions he was a flat-track bully this campaign.
With only one direct goal contribution coming against the top-six during the 2020/2021 season, Bowen fired goals against Chelsea and Arsenal this term, before turning provider against Liverpool and United. And then came the crowning glory against City.
Bowen tormented Pep Guardiola's side, a display that surely put him on course for winning his first international cap, which he has duly one.
No matter what happens from here, Bowen can always look back and say he got to follow in Beckham's famous footsteps. It remains to be seen whether his comments about supporting United as a youngster hint towards another dream and a potential transfer to Old Trafford.
Sign up to our United newsletter so you never miss an update from Old Trafford this season.
