West Ham will have to make do with centre backs Jose Fonte and James Collins as their only recognised centre halves for the next month after it was revealed by the Daily Mail that the Hammers have no clause in the contract to recall Reece Oxford from his loan spell at Reading.
Centre back Winston Reid has been ruled out for four weeks with an adductor muscle injury leading to calls from supporters to bring back Oxford to play for West Ham for the rest of the season.
The 18 year old has made only two brief substitute appearances for Reading since joining the club on loan in January, and manager Slaven Bilic has expressed his unhappiness about his lack of game at the Championship club.
The fact remains however that they can’t bring back Oxford despite the Hammers’ injury problems, and it is likely that midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate will be be asked once again to deputise in the absence of Reid.
The lack of defenders certainly won’t help matters on the field where they have conceded 17 times in the last eight games, giving them the fourth worst defence in the Premier League.
