Oxford named in Elite Round squad

Reece Oxford is in the England U17 squad for three UEFA European Championship Elite Round qualifiers
Reece Oxford has been named in the England U17 squad for the Young Lions’ UEFA European Championship Elite Round qualifiers at the end of March.

England, the defending champions, will continue their defence of the title when they host a mini-group containing Norway, Slovenia and Romania.

Oxford, who captained the side in the recent Torneio Internacional Algarve in Portugal, will likely add to his nine caps when England face Norway at Burton Albion on 21 March, Slovenia in Chesterfield on 24 March and Romania in Burton on 26 March. The mini-group winners will qualify for the finals in Bulgaria in May.

The 16-year-old Oxford has been named on the first-team bench on four occasions this season – three times in the Barclays Premier League and once in the Capital One Cup – and travelled with the squad on many more occasions.

A regular for the Hammers’ Development Squad, the young centre-back signed a new long-term contract with the Club in January.

England have won the UEFA European U17 Championship on two occasions, also lifting the trophy in 2010, when West Ham’s Robert Hall – now with Bolton Wanderers – was part of the squad.