David Gold responds on Twitter to West Ham fans asking why sensation has slipped into oblivion
By Matt Farr
West Ham co-chairman David Gold insists that teenage sensation Reece Oxford will get his chance in the first-team.
The 18-year-old has made just two first-team appearances for the Hammers this season, in the Europa League qualifiers, having stormed onto the Premier League scene against Arsenal last term.
He has sat out much of the season with injury, but has been available for West Ham’s last three games in all competitions, leading concerned to fans to question Oxford’s slip into oblivion.
Many groups of fans believe that Oxford should be playing a more regular role in the first-team squad at the London Stadium, and made their feelings known to co-chairman David Gold on Twitter.
However, the West Ham chief replied in support of Slaven Bilic’s decision not to select Oxford in recent weeks, but insisted that the England U20 international will get his chance.
He said: “Reece Oxford is on the bench. Slaven picks the players to win the game. Reece Oxford’s time will come.”
Oxford last appeared for the London club during their ill-fated Europa League qualification campaign, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw with Astra Giurgiu in their first-leg tie on August 18.
West Ham have been struggling in defence and Oxford must have thought he would get a chance to prove himself this season.
But he has yet to be given the opportunity, and must continue to wait make his Premier League bow – something that could take even longer now after West Ham completed the signing of Jose Fonte from Southampton for £8million.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers managed to clinch the signing of Fonte despite more substantial offers from elsewhere.
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