West Ham have announced their 23-man squad which will be travelling to China for the Premier League Asia Trophy.
But while there will be a focus placed on who has got in – with Josh Cullen among the youngsters included – there are some glaring omissions from the squad.
Here are the four biggest examples…
Reece Oxford
Reece Oxford is currently in Bad Ragaz, Switzerland for West Ham’s training camp, but has been left out of the squad going to China.
Fabián Balbuena hasn’t travelled due to his participation in Copa América so he could have filled in, but Manuel Pellegrini has opted to take just three centre backs.
The 20-year-old can also play in a holding midfield role, but six players were picked ahead of him who play a similar position, which doesn’t bode well for his West Ham future.
Jordan Hugill
West Ham are so short of strikers in the squad they’ve put Michail Antonio, Felipe Anderson and Andriy Yarmolenko down as forwards – yet there was no place for Jordan Hugill.
With Chicharito the only out and out striker selected, it doesn’t indicate that Pellegrini rates the former Preston man especially highly.
Xande Silva
Considering West Ham’s striker situation, Xande Silva will likely have been keen to show he can take the step up to be in and around the first team on a regular basis.
However, he hasn’t been afforded this opportunity in China – though it would be a surprise if he doesn’t get games in other pre-season matches.
Marcus Browne
Marcus Browne will likely have gone into pre-season hoping for as many chances to prove he should be a part of West Ham’s 2019/20 squad as he could get.
He impressed on loan at Oxford United last season, though he still didn’t make the squad for China despite Pablo Fornals not being included after participating in the U21 Euros.
