OPINION
The future of West Ham’s Reece Oxford has been up in the air for some time after falling out of favour among the first team – but it appears as though the end is nigh for the 20-year-old.
With 17 appearances for the senior side since coming through the youth ranks in east London, Oxford, who stands at 6’2″ (source: Transfermarkt), was once ranked as one of the hottest talents not only at the club but in the whole of England.
Things have not gone to plan for the youngster though, with a loan move to Borussia Monchengladbach last season providing just eight games of action and he has found himself frozen out of the Irons’ first team this season, playing for the under-23 on a regular basis instead.
However, with rumours circling about an exit this month, there was a surprise sight on Sunday afternoon, with the West Ham under-23 lineup against Tottenham, as revealed on the club’s official Twitter account, not containing the 20-year-old’s name either among the starters or on the bench.
There's more London derby action for us today as the U23s face Spurs! Our line-up ? pic.twitter.com/01qMtDH62K
— West Ham United (@WestHam) January 13, 2019
There has been nothing said about a potential injury or fitness problem and as such it would be expected that he would play in such a clash, having played in every Premier League 2 fixture this season.
His absence surely means that he is closing in on some sort of exit and the club are not willing to gamble on his fitness with a reserve appearance – that, or he has simply been cast out further from the club.
Either way, the end looks nigh for the versatile enforcer and he will be desperate to reignite his stagnating career.