ExWHUemployee denies rumours that Declan Rice will miss West Ham clash v West Brom
Declan Rice is in the West Ham squad to face West Brom on Wednesday evening despite rumours to the contrary, according to ExWHUemployee.
The Irons insider has moved to shut down online chatter that the 22-year-old would be absent from the crucial clash at The Hawthorns as West Ham take on former boss Sam Allardyce.
David Moyes’ side head into the clash in seventh spot but with Everton and Leeds United breathing down their necks behind them, while they can still catch Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur who occupy Europa League spots.
Playing against West Brom without Rice, who only recently returned from an extended absence that saw him miss six games, would have dealt Moyes a monumental blow in his mission to bring European football to the London Stadium next season.
But writing on his personal Twitter profile, ExWHUemployee has rubbished rumours suggesting Rice would be out.
“I can confirm that Rice is in the squad today and available for selection, despite Twitter rumours,” he said.
Relief
Losing Rice would have been a cruel turn of events given he has only just come back from missing some important games.
He was absent from all four of our April fixtures while he also missed out on May clashes with Burnley and Everton before returning to the side for Saturday night’s 1-1 draw at Brighton.
We lost three of those six games without Rice as we struggled to replace his integral presence.
He is a mainstay of our midfield alongside Tomas Soucek and our level drops considerably without him in the side.
Mark Noble just cannot cover the ground that he used to and that ends all of our natural central midfielders in the squad, with the more attacking talents of Manuel Lanzini having to operate from a deeper role in the 2-1 win at Burnley on May 3.
The Argentinian playmaker is now injured which has further depleted our midfield options, so losing Rice ahead of tonight’s clash would have been catastrophic.
But it looks like the rumours can now be put to bed and Rice can help to inspire us to victory in the West Midlands.
In other West Ham news, ‘I’ve got a feeling’ – McAvennie predicts Irons clash v West Brom, takes swipe at Big Sam.
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