Daniel Feliciano

Sun 5 June 2022 9:10, UK

Michael Owen says West Ham captain Declan Rice is ‘too good’ to play as just a holding midfielder, just like his former teammate Steven Gerrard was.

Rice had an ‘incredible’ 2021/22 campaign for the Hammers this season according to England women’s winger Jordan Nobbs, and he was named as a starter in the Three Lions midfield once again for their UEFA Nations League game with Hungary [June 4].

But while appearing on Channel 4‘s broadcast of the game as a pundit, Owen spoke about how Rice is better than just a sitting midfielder and is becoming an all-round player like the former Liverpool captain was in his heyday.

“He’s been incredible this season,” Nobbs said.

“We’ve obviously watched him play so well for West Ham but now we’ve watched him become a key player for England.

“We’re very used to him being quite a holding role midfielder, but now he’s gone from strength to strength in terms of driving with his runs. There’s not many people in the Premier League who can run 10, 20, 30, 40 yards and set it for their strikers.

“I think that sitting midfield role is a very disciplined one,” Owen replied. “I played with one of the best in terms of Steven Gerrard, but he was actually a bit too good to just sit there and be disciplined and it was too exciting for him to see an opportunity going forward.

“He was almost better than just a sitting midfielder. He’s [Rice] showing signs of a Steven Gerrard.

“Those big, powerful, long actions. A very good passer of the ball. So he’s not just a sitting midfielder anymore, he breaks the game up so well but now he’s adding those long, loping runs to his game as you mentioned becoming an all-round player.”

Very best

How good Rice is at this point is no secret, with the player’s reputation cemented as one of the best in his position in the Premier League.

To be compared with one of England’s greatest ever midfielders at the age of 23-years-old is rather incredible though, especially by someone who played with him.

Rice has come on leaps and bounds during the 2021/22 season and as well as dominating defensively and keep the Hammers solid in midfield, he also had the best goalscoring season of his career to date with five goals.

He will look to keep adding to that and if he can chip in with between eight and ten goals a season for whatever team he is playing for his standing in the game will only increase.

At this point he is one of the first names on the England team sheet for Gareth Southgate and he’s only getting better, which is the best thing West Ham can hope for.

In other West Ham news, Hammers must take £25m transfer gamble this summer

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