West Ham manager Slaven Bilic says he is “surprised” by claims from Reading boss Jaap Stam that loanee Reece Oxford hasn’t played regularly for the Royals since joining the club due to fitness concerns.
Earlier in the week Stam appeared to question Bilic’s training methods after saying Oxford was not used to the intensity of Reading’s coaching sessions after first arriving on loan in January.
The 18 year old was out for two months earlier in the season with an ankle injury but has been fully fit since the New Year, and the loan switch was designed to help improve his match fitness and gain first team experience. His lack of minutes for the Championship side has Bilic concerned. He is quoted by the Sun as saying:
“I am surprised and not happy he hasn’t played much. The only reason for him to leave us and go on loan was to get more games than he was getting here.”
Oxford has made just one appearance for Reading during his loan spell so far and that came as a second half substitute last weekend in the 3-0 defeat to Preston North End.
