West Ham United’s youngest ever player Reece Oxford had a debut to savour as the Hammers enjoyed a 2-0 opening-day win at Arsenal.
The England Under-17s captain barely put a foot wrong – despite playing in an unfamiliar defensive midfield role – against the FA Community Shield winners, who included Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in their starting line-up following his winning goal against Chelsea last week.
Happy to start the season with a win vs Arsenal. Great team performance and great support from the fans. #COYI #WHU ⚽️😆
— Ox (@Reeceoxford_) August 9, 2015
Goals from Cheikhou Kouyate and Mauro Zarate either side of half-time proved decisive and 6ft 3in 16-year-old Oxford said: “It was a dream debut. It’s an honour to play for West Ham and to be their youngest ever player. Now I just want to get more games.”
Oxford became the second-youngest player in Premier League history after Jose Baxter and ahead of third-youngest Wayne Rooney.
Team-mate Winston Reid said: “He’s 16 and he’s bigger and better than me! He's a really good player and he’s come into the squad, a young guy, but he listens to us and at 16 he's got his whole future ahead of him.”
Boss Bilic added: "People were asking: 'Are you sure he is 16? It was going to be a risk but he has got something. I am very proud of him.
"Only on paper he is 16. He is a part of this new generation."
Joe Gomez, 18 and 6ft 2in, followed the trend of big talents making debuts, as the England U19s centre-half lined up alongside senior internationals Nathaniel Clyne and James Milner in making first Liverpool appearances in the 1-0 win at Stoke City.
Quality result and clean sheet away at Stoke, great experience for me making my debut... Great support from travelling fans as well #lfc
— Joe Gomez (@J_Gomez97) August 9, 2015
Jack Butland could do nothing to keep out Philippe Coutinho’s late strike from distance as Glen Johnson tasted defeat on his Stoke debut against his former employers.
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson, who along with Adam Lallana and Jordon Ibe was one of six Englishmen in the starting XI, said: “I always had belief in our forward players to create chances, we have that much quality. I knew if we stayed solid at the back we could win the game.”
Joe Gomez battles with Jonathan Walters
Jay Rodriguez made his first start for Southampton since April 2014 following a knee injury, alongside Matt Targett, but they needed a late equaliser from Shane Long to escape Newcastle with a 2-2 draw.
Graziano Pelle put the Saints in front, but Papiss Cisse levelled for the home side before half-time. Georginio Wijnaldum struck on his debut to edge Newcastle ahead, but Long’s 79th-minute effort was enough to earn a point.
And as if two towering young England debutants were not enough on the first Sunday programme of the season, U18s defender Dael Fry made it a third with a commanding performance in Middlesbrough's 0-0 draw with Preston North End.
Absolutely delighted to have made my professional debut!! A dream come true ❤️⚽️
— Dael Fry (@Daelfry1) August 9, 2015
Fry, who turns 18 later this month and was a European Champion with England U17s in 2014, was singled out for praise by Boro boss and former Real Madrid centre-half Aitor Karanka.
“He was one of the best for me. He showed everyone he’s a very good player,” he said after drafting in the youngster in place of injured England U21s international Ben Gibson.
“I was very confident when I chose him because he’s showed me in pre-season that I can put him on the pitch.”
Fry made his debut alongside England winger Stewart Downing, who rejoined the Teesside club this summer, while U20s keeper Jordan Pickford kept a clean sheet for Preston.
