Speaking to talkSPORT, former England U21 manager Stuart Pearce has said of his frustration over youngster Reece Oxford not travelling with England to the U17 World Cup, which is taking place in Chile.
The promising Hammers defender has appeared three times in the Premier League this season, most notably on the opening day against Arsenal, and has previously captained England in the qualifying stages of the tournament. However, the 16-year-old will play no part in the three-week long tournament, ‘due to concerns over fatigue’.
Pearce himself made 78 appearances for the national team, and is a firm believer that for England to win senior competitions, they must first win something at a junior level.
“For me, as I have said many, many times before, the key to winning something at senior level is winning something at these junior tournaments. “What an experience this is for any young player. A life experience, not just a footballing experience. A World Cup in Chile – that is a life experience. “If he is playing in West Ham’s first team week after week I would say, ‘I can’t understand it, but OK, fine’. But if he is not even in the West Ham squad, wowee. “Where is your progression, a) as a man and b) as a footballer? “He might have been up for the captaincy and captaining your country in Chile is a better life experience and a better footballing experience for him to progress in football than staying at West Ham and possibly being on the bench or not being in the squad.”
Earlier this month West Ham manager Slaven Bilic also spoke on the situation.“Reece is an exceptional talent that we have to nurture. And we need him in the first team,” said Bilic.
“We have made a long-term plan for him to not to affect his body and his development. If we let him go for one and a half months or whatever, it’s no good.”
It is unclear as to when Oxford will next feature for the Hammers in the first team, however it is undoubted how highly-rated he is at Upton Park.
As for the Young Lions out in South America, their chances of getting out of the group do not look great after a draw to Guinea and a 1-0 defeat to Brazil. Next up are current group-toppers South Korea.
