West Ham are poised to recall Reece Burke from his Wigan loan spell in January as cover for their problems at right back.
Although Sam Byram is on his way back from injury the Hammers have been watching Burke closely at the Championship club Wigan where he has been performing well on the right side of defence since breaking into the team permanently over the last half a dozen games.
And he was on the mark with his first goal for the club in the 2-1 win over Huddersfield at the weekend.
Burke will have spent a season and a half on loan since Slaven Bilic’s arrival and has received rave reports having picked up a clutch of awards last year when leaving Bradford.
Now it may well be his chance has come to break into the first team set up as the Hammers look to iprove dramatically over the second half of the season.
Be great if he is allowed to come back and get some game time.
Not sure if he is though,thought it was a season long loan Hugh ?
Really liked the look of Burke when he played but having watched a few games of Wigan with him at rb he really looks like like he lacks pace, struggles with wingers getting to bye line and getting crosses in, a much better prospect at cb in my opinion as reads the game well and positions himself well at crosses an is decent in the air. Lack of pace may be just that difference between him becoming a world class player. Unfortunately now in my opinion the game cries out for pace in all parts of the pitch but hope I am wrong about his pace from the games I have seen as I do hope he is successful alongside Oxford for the next few years to come
agreed but once he went Burke SHOULD HAVE STAYED
agreed
with Tompkins gone he should never been allowed to be loned out in the first place
I don’t think Tonks should have gone either. ( except he wanted to )
Great news .
Burke to provide back-up to RB and CB. He will definitely get some games in, and he won’t lack confidence like some of our seniors.
When Oxford is fit again, he could be sent out on loan or be back up for the holding role in midfield. His defensive game would suite that role, and it will give him experience he lacks.
Fantastic news.
Good news. It’s about time some of our youngsters got introduced to the first team. And hopefully not just to sit on the bench.