The West Ham United teenager is currently on loan but he could have been a short-term solution to their problem position.
West Ham United’s problems at right-back are clear to see, with Hammers manager Slaven Bilic opting to play midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate in that position rather than alongside Pedro Obiang in the centre of the park, while Sam Byram is overlooked time and again.
Having previously tried Michail Antonio in the full-back position, and seeing their Alvaro Arbeloa experiment fall flat, would it not have been sensible for West Ham to at least try Reece Oxford out wide to see what he is capable of?
Right-back may not be Oxford’s natural position, and in time he looks set to grow into a commanding and supremely talented central defender, but he has the innate talent to succeed out wide and it is not as if player in the past have not shone stepping one position sideways.
Chris Smalling, Eric Bailly and Phil Jones have all done a job at Manchester United in the full-back position despite being centre-backs by trade while Joe Gomez excelled on the left for Liverpool last season despite being signed for his potential further infield.
Playing Oxford at right-back instead of sending him out on loan to Reading would have enabled Obiang and Kouyate to play together while giving the 18-year-old the first-team chances he was ready for two years ago.
Instead he is sitting on the bench in the Championship, while West Ham fans scratch their heads wondering why this problem was allowed to occur in the first place.
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