Reece Oxford has sustained a sprained ankle and is unlikely to play any part in tomorrow night’s game against Spurs at Wembley.
The teenager though will be hoping to recover in time for the weekend when an FA Cup Final third round tie at Shrewsbury looks his first obvious opportunity of forcing his way into the team.
Manager David Moyes – explaining the injury – told KUMB: “Reece Oxford kicked the ground in training. He kicked the ground and it’s given him a sprained ankle so he probably might not be fit for Thursday.”
Contrary to some reports that the youngster wanted to stay in Germany rather than retuen club sources have told ClaretandHugh he is desperate to join the Hammers first team match day squad and happy to be back.
A well place source said: “Reece is delighted to have made enough progress to get his chance at West Ham. He is very happy and ready to show the new manager what he can do.”
We get so many injuries from training. Are they playing on a ploughed field and dodging cow pats?
BM and Leipzig, decent performers in the Bundesliga this season, are prepared to offer good money for Oxford’s signature. The footballing judgements of both those club’s coaching teams have to be taken seriously.
Oxford’s progress could be attributed to Slaven’s smartness in sending him out on loan with a club doing well, out of the furore and hype of English news media, in order to nurture his development and confidence. ‘What if’ Slaven foresaw that Rush Green and Stratford were not the best environments for Oxford’s immediate development? A great coaching insight perhaps.
Mr Moyes and the Club’s owners may now, both differently, ‘cash in’ on Oxford’s development. Meanwhile let’s hope we see Reece play in the Cup if not tomorrow night. Getting a result tomorrow is a huge ask, and a huge need – COYI
Kicking the floor in training is probably a coded message that he is available for transfer if the price is right.