The West Ham United youngster is currently on loan in Germany, just when he could have returned to the first-team fold.
Of all Slaven Bilic’s questionable decisions while West Ham United manager, the decision to send Reece Oxford on a two-year loan deal to Borussia Monchengladbach is among the strangest.
The youngster showed at just 16 that he has what it takes to play regularly in the Premier League and yet he was soon shunted aside and a failed loan spell at Reading was followed by his trip to Germany.
Oxford’s current situation is even more frustrating considering he could have been the Hammers youngster with the best chance of making an immediate impact under new manager David Moyes.
The Scot has never been afraid to give youth a chance and he would have surely found a place for Oxford, who can operate at centre-back, right-back or as a holding midfielder.
Considering the way West Ham lined up against Manchester City last weekend, Moyes will need all the top defenders and energetic midfielders he can get, with injuries and suspensions likely to take their toll in the second half of the campaign.
As a consequence, Oxford could have been the solution to a whole host of temporary problems in the months ahead, and yet instead he is sitting unused on Monchengladbach’s substitutes’ bench.
Declan Rice has already proved his worth at West Ham and one can only hope that in time Oxford returns and does the same.
Some may suggest he did just that with his outstanding performance against Arsenal but that game will only be remembered for so long.
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