Dean Ashton wants England to build squad around West Ham ace Declan Rice
Dean Ashton believes England should build their World Cup squad around West Ham ace Declan Rice, calling him ‘one of the most incredible athletes I’ve ever seen’.
Rice has become one of the first names on the teamsheet for both club and country with his performances over the last few years.
Now Ashton, who was speaking on the talkSPORT breakfast show [April 2, 6:48], believes Gareth Southgate should use his strengths and build the squad from there because he’s ‘brilliant’.
“He’s one of the most incredible athletes I’ve ever seen, honestly, because minute one or minute 93 he’s the same.
“You know, he’s got that same intensity, he’s got way more pace than I think he’s probably given credit for and I think his reading of the game is brilliant.
“I don’t think anyone else in the Premier League recovers the ball as much as he does because of that energy and because of that understanding now of that role.
“And I think when he came on [for England] you could see how we’ve missed that energy, and Phillips to be fair in the Euros, gave us in front of that back three and that protection that I think we’ve needed, and I think that humbleness that we’ve needed in that England side.
“We need to use that strength that we’ve got with Declan Rice, and then ahead of him that’s where I think we can tweak things and improve.”
The best
It’s been a very long time since West Ham could say they had England’s most important player among their playing staff, but there is a case for that now.
Rice has emerged as a leader in the squad despite being aged just 23-years-old and has already mustered up 28 caps despite making his debut three years ago.
There is talk of him being a future captain and while Harry Kane isn’t showing signs of going anywhere just yet, it’s never too early to start looking to the future and factoring these scenarios in.
Rice is going to be an England mainstay for the next decade and if his trajectory continues at the rate it’s currently heading in, then he deserves everything coming his way.
That means build the international team around him, let him blossom and reap all the rewards that will undoubtedly come with that decision.
In other West Ham news, TalkSPORT pundit demands position change for West Ham ace, ‘better’ than current options
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