10 Young Players Who Could Help England Win World Cup 2022

With the likes of John Stones and Harry Maguire, England seem pretty well-stocked in defence right now, but competition for starting spots could heat up if young Reece Oxford lives up to his potential.

Time and again compared to iconic England defender Rio Ferdinand, Oxford has height, pace, and strength, and he became West Ham's youngest ever player when he turned out at the age of just 16 in a Europa League qualifier back in 2015. He appeared in the Premier League a few weeks later in a fantastic 2-0 win over Arsenal and was quickly being rated as one of the best youth prospects in England.

A loan to Reading didn't quite work out for Oxford but he's since spent time in Germany with Borussia Mönchengladbach, getting some vital minutes on the pitch in a top tier league, and has attracted attention from clubs around Europe. Able to play as a full back, central defender, and even a defensive midfielder, Oxford has a versatile skillset and could develop into a great player over the next few years.