West Ham forward Jarrod Bowen has revealed his partner's father, actor Danny Dyer, has been on his case over the Hammers' struggles this season.
Bowen, who joined the London side from Hull City in 2020, is in a relationship with Dyer's daughter Dani. The couple are expecting twins together, having announced the news on social media in January.
The couple were spotted in public for the first time in 2021, and their relationship has allowed Bowen to spend time with West Ham supporter and EastEnders star Danny. Ahead of West Ham's Europa Conference League semi-final against AZ Alkmaar, the 26-year-old joked that he has been getting stick from the actor amid a challenging campaign for David Moyes' team.
"I've only been here three years but I feel a massive part of this club as well, and a fan, almost, as well," the England international said. "So I know how much it means for the fans and I... want to give them that success.
"The missus' old man is obviously on at me every week," he added with a smile. "But I think for everyone, the whole club, it's not been a great season but I think staying in the Premier League is the main aim and bringing the trophy home for the fans would be a good end to a bad season."
West Ham's victory over Manchester United in their last league game moved them one step closer to Premier League survival, with Moyes' team sitting in the bottom three as recently as February. However, it has been a very different story in Europe.
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Bowen finished last season as West Ham's top scorer, finding the net 12 times in the league and adding a further six in cup competitions. He has only added five league goals this term, though, and missed out on a place in Gareth Southgate's squad for the World Cup.
His five goals in the Europa Conference League, however, have brought the Premier League outfit within touching distance of the final. West Ham have won all but one of their matches in the competition, with Bowen bagging a brace against AEK Larnaca in the round of 16, and victory over two legs against AZ would see Moyes' men improve on their run to the final four in last year's Europa League.
“I've reached a Champions League quarter-final with Manchester United, lost on penalties in the quarter-final of the Europa League with Everton, and last year we reached a semi-final here at West Ham," the manager said ahead of the home leg. “I want to try and take it a couple of steps further, and I would refer back to the serial winner Jose Mourinho, who found winning this trophy so special for him and his football club (Roma).
“Sir Alex Ferguson always used to say this was the time of year where you had to be at your best because it tends to be that games are really important semi-finals, finals or league games you have to win. Having your best form at this time of the season is always important and I do believe that we’re playing some of our best stuff just now.”
