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Reece Oxford has been featured in West Ham’s pre season plans, as indicated by his inclusion in the club’s return video and a photograph tweeted by Sam Inkersole.

This doesn’t necessarily mean he will be at the club by the end of pre season, though it was pretty clear he would be included as he hasn’t yet found a new club.

He’s already seen a move to Augsburg fall through, with the German club refusing to include the relegation clause the 20-year-old was insisting would be placed in his contract, according to the Telegraph.

The news outlet also suggested that West Bromwich Albion and Middlesbrough are interested in signing the West Ham academy graduate.

Nevertheless, nothing has materialised so far, meaning the youngster finds himself with the Hammers for pre-season – potentially at a career crossroads.

While it presumed by many that he has no future at West Ham, he is of course still young and this is the perfect opportunity to persuade Manuel Pellegrini he should be in his plans if he stays.

Not only that, Oxford needs to show the correct attitude and application in any games he plays in before the campaign begins, as any prospective buyers will likely be watching on.

Oxford is a talented player, but there are already so many questions circulating about him and his career; it is time he puts those to bed.

He needs to either force his way into the Hammers’ first team plans or convince a club they should sign him – another campaign in the Under 23s or an unconvincing loan spell could be damaging to his career prospects.

This was an opportunity he always will have had in the case he didn’t have a new club before pre season, so is likely one he has thought about and prepared himself for.

That doesn’t detract from its importance in anyway, it is imperative Oxford impresses.