Ally McCoist and Jamie O’Hara delighted with West Ham star Declan Rice
Ally McCoist and Jamie O’Hara were thrilled by the performance of West Ham midfielder Declan Rice for England on Sunday afternoon.
Rice, 22, started and completed England’s Wembley opener against Croatia as The Three Lions ran out 1-0 winners in their first game of Euro 2020.
Speaking on talkSPORT [15/06/21], McCoist and O’Hara waxed lyrical about the Irons star.
“Declan gives you great protection as well, at the back,” McCoist said.
“I thought it was a masterstroke playing [Kalvin] Phillips one up ahead of Rice, I watched Rice pretty closely in the game and he just covers things. You see him dropping off into areas, he’s a very, very clever player.”
O’Hara added: “He reminds me of Michael Carrick with the way he plays and when you have players like that in the team you feel comfortable.”
Maestro
West Ham fans need no reminding of Michael Carrick’s talents.
The Newcastle-born midfielder learnt his trade at the Irons, rising through the ranks in the ’90s before making over 150 appearances for the club.
He stayed with us when we got relegation in 2003 but he was sold a year later as we failed to achieve instant promotion.
He went to Tottenham Hotspur before his career really took off at Manchester United where he became one of the most highly-decorated English players of the modern era, winning five Premier Leagues and one Champions League.
Are there any similarities between him and Rice? They’re certainly not identical players, with Carrick more adept with the ball at his feet, playing long-range passes.
That’s not to say Rice hasn’t got that in his locker, but the current Irons star is less reserved than Carrick, and pops up in all areas of the pitch, getting stuck in at every opportunity possible.
But they’re both players that can be utterly relied upon in the middle of midfield for club and country.
n other West Ham news, the Irons are frontrunners to sign this £20m-rated striker who scored 29 goals last season.
Be sure to follow West Ham Zone on Facebook and Twitter for 24/7 updates on the Hammers and more exclusive interviews with Frank McAvennie.