West Ham are facing an anxious wait over Jarrod Bowen after their captain suffered an ankle injury scare in training, with Hammers News understanding the next 48 hours will prove crucial in determining whether he can face West Bromwich Albion.

The scare comes at a bad time for under pressure Nuno Espirito Santo, with West Ham already preparing to cope without Konstantinos Mavropanos after the Greek defender suffered a significant knee injury that is expected to sideline him for several matches.

Now the Hammers must wait to discover whether their captain and talisman Jarrod Bowen could also be unavailable for Saturday’s home clash.

KUMB first reported Bowen’s injury after an eyewitness saw the incident during Tuesday morning’s training session held at the London Stadium. The 29-year-old twisted his ankle shortly before the end of the workout, prompting immediate concern among those present, including Nuno.

However, there was some initial encouragement, with KUMB reporting that Bowen himself did not believe the problem was serious and expected to be fit enough to face West Brom.

West Ham wait for crucial Bowen injury update

Hammers News put the injury scare to a leading source at West Ham, who explained that Bowen was following the standard RICE procedure for an ankle roll: rest, ice, compression and elevation.

Hammers News understands the next 48 hours are crucial as West Ham monitor whether Bowen’s ankle becomes swollen, stiff or bruised.

The club will also need to assess any pain or tenderness around the joint, alongside ankle stability and range of movement, before deciding whether he is ready to resume training.

The absence of obvious immediate signs of a serious injury would be encouraging, but it would not necessarily rule out a problem that becomes clearer over the following hours.

West Ham are therefore expected to take a cautious approach regarding training ahead of West Brom rather than risk aggravating the injury before its extent is understood.

The concern surrounding Bowen follows Hammers News’ exclusive report that Mavropanos has suffered a significant knee injury, although it is not the worst-case scenario that could have kept him out for six to nine months.

Mavropanos blow makes Bowen fitness even more important

A West Ham source warned that it would take a miracle for the centre-back not to miss matches, leaving Nuno with a defensive selection problem as the Hammers attempt to get their promotion campaign back on track.

Hammers News had already highlighted the lack of cover for key figures Bowen and Mavropanos.

The Greek defender’s injury has now brought that concern into sharp focus, with the possibility of losing Bowen presenting another serious headache.

The captain remains one of West Ham’s most influential attacking players and a key figure in their push for an immediate return to the Premier League.

Saturday’s meeting with West Brom is an important opportunity for Nuno’s side to respond to the damaging 3-2 defeat to Southampton.

Being without Bowen would make that task considerably harder.

For now, there is no confirmation that the winger will miss the game, and KUMB’s initial eyewitness account offered some grounds for optimism.

But West Ham will be watching closely over the coming 48 hours, hoping the ankle settles sufficiently for their captain to be involved at the weekend.