Jamie Redknapp has stated that it is time that West Ham gave young starlet Reece Oxford a chance to play, especially given the side’s poor defending of late.
The Hammers have suffered a miserable couple of weeks, with harrowing defeats derailing what was promising to be a big campaign for the London side.
The nature of the side’s defending has been called into real doubt as well, with both Watford and West Brom able to score four goals against Slaven Biic’s men.
Oxford broke onto the scene last season with a number of impressive cameos in the Hammers first-team and has starred at age-grade level for the London club.
Redknapp has stated that it is the perfect time to turn to youth and give the teenage defender a chance to prove himself in the Premier League.
“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,” he wrote in The Daily Mail.
“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.”
West Ham face Accrington Stanley tonight in the EFL Cup before taking on Southampton in the Premier League this weekend.
