Oxford hoping to follow in Ferdinand’s footsteps

The West Ham prodigy has admitted that he looked up to another ball-playing defender who has emerged from the Hammers’ academy as he progressed through the ranks

Reece Oxford hopes to follow in the footsteps of Rio Ferdinand by emerging as the next star of the West Ham academy.

The defender made his Premier League debut at just 16 last season and was hugely impressive in a 2-0 victory over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

Not 18 until December, ball-playing centre-back Oxford says similarities between himself and Ferdinand made the ex-Manchester United man the hero he looked to as he was coming through the ranks.

“The player that I looked up to the most at West Ham was probably Rio Ferdinand, because he was the same position as me,” he exclusively told Goal.

“When I came to the club I was a striker and he got moved to centre-back [too] and he just moved on from there, so hopefully I can push on the way he pushed on.”

Oxford has been linked to several top clubs already since making the breakthrough in east London, but says the expectations that have been placed upon him at a young age do not affect his game.

“I just don’t really take any notice [of the pressure], I try not to think about it too much,” he added. “I just do what I can do and hopefully it’s good enough.”