Oxford couldn't be superman at West Ham but now eyes up PL return and England call

The Englishman was tipped as the next big thing after bursting onto the scene as a 16-year-old debutant for the Hammers against Arsenal in 2015.

However, it was just one of eight top-flight appearances for Oxford during an eight-year spell in east London.

Most of his time in the senior ranks at West Ham was spent on loan with Reading and Borussia Monchengladbach, before a permanent switch to Augsburg in 2019 breathed new life into his career.

The 23-year-old is now a regular starter in the Bundesliga, where he has already played 73 games.

And not as a midfielder, but a central defender, keeping the likes of Robert Lewandowski and Erling Haaland at bay this season.

Speaking to the Evening Standard, Oxford admits it was difficult leaving Slaven Bilic's Hammers to go abroad in search of game time, but feels vindicated in his decision.

Oxford said: "I spoke with Slaven and I said: 'Gladbach want me and I want to go'.

"He was a bit angry and he said: 'I want you to stay here'.

"But I didn't want to be a fourth option, I wanted to get some minutes.

"I chose to come out here because I wanted to be alone and I wanted to get away from everything.

"The media in England is a bit crazy sometimes. I just thought, I'll go abroad and focus for a few years."

In a separate interview with the Telegraph, Oxford reveals why things didn't go to plan in east London, suggesting expectations were too high for someone so young.

He said: "Everyone thought I was Superman and no one really knew what went on behind closed doors.

"I was 16 and everyone thought I could play every week not knowing that I had injuries after a certain amount of games.

"I had been with the first team since I was 14. I was never on my age group's schedule, with the gym-work and everything. All the things you need to make sure your muscles are ready for the professional game.

"[Instead] I was straight into the professional game. Injuries - back pains, hamstring problems, everything.

"Maybe I also got a bit lost in the bubble because you would when you are 16 and coming out of school. I never had the attitude that they said I did.

"You can ask everyone around West Ham. That was the picture they painted and it wasn't a good one."

However, having emerged as a totally different player, Oxford has a point to prove in the Premier League and an England call-up in his sights.

He added: "The next step is me being called up for England and we will see in the future what happens.

"I am from England and I do want to come home. I am not going to spend my whole career out here."