The 48-year-old actor is a lifelong West Ham fan but admits that he doesn't often speak to Hammers captain Bowen – who is married to his daughter Dani Dyer - about the beautiful game.

Dyer told FourFourTwo magazine: "It's interesting. We don't really talk that much about football. He's not that kind of man.

"He doesn't watch Match of the Day – he loves watching football, but doesn't watch himself, which I find fascinating. When he's in the mood, we'll have a chat about football and West Ham in general. He's the father of my grandchildren. He's family."

The Football Factory star still is hopeful that Bowen can help West Ham to Premier League survival this season as well as secure a place in England's World Cup squad.

Dyer said: "I mean, Jarrod really is the governor – I just pray that man can keep us up.

"It's his career, he loves the club. He did sign for six years and totally wants to commit to that, but of course, if we do go down, and there's a good chance that we will, then... He needs to get on the plane to the World Cup.

"This will probably be his last chance, considering he's 29. Let's hope he keeps us up, has an amazing World Cup and gets to start a game, because I tell you, the man will damage any team."

Meanwhile, Danny revealed how he fell in love with West Ham as soon as he attended his first match at the London club's former Upton Park stadium as a child during the 1980s.

The Rivals star said: "It was the mid-80s the first time I went to Upton Park – it's a f****** disgrace that place is gone.

"Anyway, we lost 1-0, but I was hooked immediately. That's the worst scoreline when you go to a game. You don't even get to jump around. It wasn't until my second match that I got to feel the roar when we scored.

"West Ham was a-mile-and-a-half from my house – it was a tribal thing. I knew they were s***, but the whole idea of like-minded people in a stadium trying to nick three points off big clubs excited me."