West Ham are enduring a tough time – and Jamie Redknapp thinks Reece Oxford can help them.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp
Pundit Jamie Redknapp has told the Daily Mail that West Ham United should turn to Reece Oxford to solve their defensive problems.
West Ham were beaten 4-2 by West Brom on Saturday afternoon, just a week after they had lost by the same scoreline to Watford at the London Stadium.
It’s now 13 goals conceded in five games, with only Stoke conceding more Premier League goals so far this season, presenting manager Slaven Bilic with a tough situation.
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic
It seems that, no matter what Bilic changes, West Ham are no better at the back. We’ve seen Michail Antonio, Sam Byram and Havard Nordtveit all feature at right back, whilst Winston Reid, Angelo Ogbonna and James Collins have all had a go at centre back.
None of those have worked so far, leading pundit Jamie Redknapp to offer a solution of his own – start a 17-year-old to turn things around.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Redknapp suggested that teenager Reece Oxford could be Bilic’s saviour, whether played in defence or in holding midfield.
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic and Reece Oxford as he is substituted
Oxford, who has come up through the ranks with the Hammers, hit the headlines on the opening day of last season with a superb display against Arsenal, protecting the back four in a holding midfield role to help West Ham keep a clean sheet.
One of England’s top young talents, Oxford has yet to feature in the Premier League this season, but Redknapp feels that it’s time for Bilic to call upon the wonderkid to solve his defensive issues.
Redknapp believes that the fans would love seeing Oxford play as they often do when a youth academy graduate makes the step-up to the Premier League, and thinks Oxford would give West Ham a ‘fresh impetus’.
West Ham’s Reece Oxford in action with Werder Bremen’s Fin Bartels
“West Ham have shipped 13 goals in their five Premier League games — including four in each of their last two games — and I think it’s time for Slaven Bilic to give Reece Oxford a go,” said Redknapp. “The 17-year-old defender was in my 10 to watch this season as he’s a very talented boy and I think he’ll be an international one day, but he needs to get his chance and sometimes this only happens when your team are struggling.”
“Bilic could even give him a go in midfield, where he played when West Ham beat Arsenal on the opening day of last season — anything to get him some game time and give his side some fresh impetus. And there’s nothing fans love more than to see one of their own on the pitch,” he added.
Would you like to see Oxford start for West Ham?
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