Oxford a student of the game
Reece Oxford will collect his GCSE exam results next week, although it is safe to say that the West Ham United midfielder will treasure more being handed accolades for his marshalling display yesterday.
It was not simply that the England under-17 football captain smothered Mesut Ozil, the Arsenal midfielder, but that he had the confidence and felt the stature to rouse his West Ham team-mates when necessary early after the interval.
A central defender, Oxford is operating as a holding midfielder since he became West Ham’s youngest player at 16 years and 198 days last month, mainly because the club have been unable to conclude a permanent deal for Alexandre Song because of his injury.
Oxford grew up a stone’s throw away from White Hart Lane in Edmonton and was on Tottenham Hotspur’s books as a child, playing as a forward.
He joined West Ham and is the latest in a line of central defenders produced by their academy.
He signed the club’s most lucrative contract for a youngster to prevent him leaving for Manchester United or Liverpool who had shown interest in him last season. ‘‘Let’s be fair, Ozil had his moments and it’s not easy to neutralise a world-class player,’’ manager Slaven Bilic said.
‘‘He’s definitely going to be a big player. There will be ups and downs. We have to manage him [Oxford], not only on the pitch but also off the pitch. He has a presence, he’s mobile and quick, and he can turn and pass the ball.
‘‘He’s also a good guy. He’s not fazed about playing at the Emirates. I tried to help and told him whatever he did wrong was my fault, not his. But I’m lucky he didn’t do much wrong. The risk is not over. He’s not 19 or 20. He’s 16. I knew what would happen if it did not go well. But I’m not thinking what will happen if it doesn’t work out.’’
Oxford was told on Sunday that he would be starting, having remained in London when the side lost away to Astra Giurgi in the Europa League third round qualifying round on Friday.
‘‘It wasn’t like, ‘Let’s sit in a dark room, I have to tell you something, Reece, you’re going to play’,’’ Bilic said.
‘‘That would make pressure. It was more like chatting. This was natural for him. For today, it was a good decision. He’s definitely going to do it. You can see the ability but we have to protect him.’’