It has long been a source of much debate among West Ham United fans; Should Jarrod Bowen really be wearing the captain’s armband?

After all, it is not as if you need a ring of elasticated fabric around your bicep in order to lead by example. Parker was never officially West Ham captain, believe it or not. That is actually a popular, and understandable, misconception.

Jarrod Bowen is a different kind of leader. Bowen tends to lead by actions, rather than words. He drives the team forward with goals and assists, instead of rousing dressing room speeches like the one Parker memorably delivered in 2011. Parker moved Carlton Cole to the verge of tears that day at The Hawthorns; the scene of another 3-0 fightback.

Jarrod Bowen shows his leadership qualities in West Ham United comeback

What Bowen did just after the hour mark in South Wales, though, proved to his new head coach that the armband should stay where it is.

“You see Jarrod for all his qualities. We certainly saw [those] today,” Nuno Espirito Santo’s Lambeth-born successor told BBC Sport. “There was a recovery run from a corner around 65 minutes, if anyone wants to watch that. It speaks volumes about Jarrod.

“Running back. Sprinting back. We are blessed to have him. He’s been vital for this club for so many years and he will continue to be.”

Isn’t that so typical of a manager? On a night when Bowen provided two glorious assists – one perfect lob for Divine Mukasa and then a wicked cross to set up Max Kilman’s 82nd minute equaliser – it was the winger’s defensive output which had his manager beaming.

Bowen has always defended himself from criticism

Bowen replaced Kurt Zouma as the West Ham captain back in 2024. The England international has always divided opinion in his role as skipper, with some feeling that he lacks the natural authority for such a job.

Days after Harry Kane claimed the Ballon D’Or following a staggering 12 months with Bayern Munich and the Three Lions, another quiet leader proved that you don’t need booming vocal chords or an Al Pacino speech to galvanise your team in tough situations.

“For me, it’s a huge honour to be a captain of a football club this size, with the captains that we’ve had,” Bowen told West Ham United’s official YouTube channel in April.

“The pressure comes on you, the fingers get pointed at you, the questions come to you. But I think, for me, the way I am, I don’t want to change nothing. You know, it’s about being me, it’s about being what got me into this position in the first place. What got me to be the captain of this club.

“For me, I just try and go out there every single week and play my A game. Off the pitch, be the best teammate I can be, be the best captain I can be and just try and set an example and show an example every single day to everyone watching.”  

Bowen is averaging a goal or an assist per game this season; nine of the former and eight of the latter in 17 appearances.