I’ve had two multi-million pound transfers to Premier League clubs – but am yet to play in top-flight and am out on loan
TWO Premier League clubs forked out a total of £5.5million to sign Josh Bowler — and yet he is still waiting to play a first-team game in the top flight.
But the 24-year-old winger believes he is finding the confidence and consistency he needs to reach his goal of playing in the big time during his latest loan spell at Cardiff.
It is the fourth occasion in his career that Bowler has been sent out by his parent club — the Bluebirds being his latest short-term home after stints at Hull, Blackpool and Olympiakos.
A wonderkid in his teenage years at QPR, he was sold to Everton in 2017 for £1.5m.
Only 18 at the time, he played for the under-21 side but then got sent out on loan to Hull.
Four years on, he joined Blackpool on a free without making a first-team appearance for the Toffees.
Nottingham Forest were next to splash the cash, paying £4m in September 2022 then immediately sending him to their sister club Greece for five months.
He came back to Blackpool for another temporary stint before starting a season-long loan under boss Erol Bulut at Cardiff in the summer.
Ahead of Saturday’s trip to Preston, Bowler said: “The type of player I am it is always going to be hit and miss. I try stuff that’s difficult, and I’m never going to back down from that.
“Some games it won’t come off and that’s why I need to improve on my consistency.
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“I think that is coming with age and more knowledge of the game.
“Every night I dream about making my Premier League debut and I don’t think my time is over. It’s important I don’t give up on myself, however tough it is, and .
“I feel I’m flourishing here at Cardiff and the manager has given me real self-belief and confidence. Confidence is the biggest drug in football — with it you can go out and be ten times the player.
“I moved away from my family at 18 and since then living I’ve be on my own. It’s been a bit lonely, but there are people in worse situations.”
His ball of fluff, Pomeranian dog Esaias keeps him company on his travels, with his Liverpool-based partner and family visiting him for matches.
Bowler said: “I’ve been on my own for a while now, so I’m used to that, and my little dog is massive for me and keeps me company.
It was a surreal moment for me to sign for such a massive club as Everton as a teenager… it was an offer I couldn’t turn down.
Josh Bowler
“It was a surreal moment for me to sign for such a massive club as Everton as a teenager. It was an offer I couldn’t turn down.
“There have been a lot of ups and downs in my career with moves to Everton and Forest, but that’s just like many other players. Finally, I feel I’ve got a bit of stability.
“But the experience at Everton was great for me, but it just didn’t click. I was quite shy, and it helped me to grow as a person and a player.
“The key is to never stop believing in yourself and to keep working hard.
“Because I’ve been close a few times to reaching my dream, it makes me even more hungry for it.
“I can taste it, but I haven’t had the full bite yet… and I really want it.”