Graeme Souness calls for more goals from West Ham ace Declan Rice
Graeme Souness has outlined one key area of improvement for “brilliant” West Ham midfielder Declan Rice.
The 22-year-old has eight goal involvements in all competitions so far this season but only one Premier League goal to his name.
Souness has called for more goals from the England international after he came close, smashing the post from outside the box in the Hammers’ win over Wolves.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Souness said: “I’d want more goals from him.
“In the modern game with the way the pitches are, for central midfield players coming onto things they’ve got no excuses. The ball’s running smoothly, it’s coming to you on a carpet and he’s scored one goal this year, Declan Rice.”
“West Ham say he’s brilliant from outside the box. He scored a good goal against Watford – passing it in.
“He needs to get into the positions so there are the tactics and it’s him recognising it. But when he gets there he’s definitely got the quality so I feel that he will think looking at top, top midfielders, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, they scored those goals and I think he needs to do that.”
Give him time
The goals will come as Rice gains more experience and finds himself as a player.
It mustn’t be forgotten that he has only just turned 23 and has played much of his football as a defensive midfielder despite wanting to move away from that role now.
This season has seen Rice progress massively in terms of his attacking game. He has been one of the main catalysts in making West Ham so positive this season.
His range of passing has improved vastly but the most noticeable difference is his dribbling. Every game he drives forward with the ball and looks to make something happen for the Irons.
As he becomes more familiar with his new role, establishing himself as a proper box to box centre-midfielder, the goals will follow.
He already has eight goal involvements this season which really isn’t that bad. Souness is just being overly critical as usual.
In other West Ham news, View: Irons have shown brilliant initiative with a new Ben Johnson contract.
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