It’s hard not to take a massive compliment when you’re compared to a €55.6m signing for the league champions but it almost does Declan Rice a disservice.
Ian Rush was doing analysis for beIN Sports on Thursday night and was fortunate enough to witness a Declan Rice masterclass.
The Irish international was instrumental as West Ham came from behind to beat Southampton away from home and take their unbelievable December record to five wins from six games.
In fact, in this month alone, the Hammers have won 15 of their total of 27 points for the entire campaign and they’ve surged to joint eighth in the table alongside Everton.
Mick McCarthy has set a deadline for the player pledge his international allegiance to either Ireland or England whilst Rice, meanwhile, just continues to impress football fans all over these isles. And Welsh legend Ian Rush can see exactly why both countries are trying to convince the 19-year-old to buy into their respective systems.
In his analysis of the game, he compared Declan Rice to Manchester City’s John Stones but went as far as saying that the teenager is better.
Rush did, however, say he thinks his best position is as a ball-playing centre back and it’s hard to agree when he’s been breaking up play like he has and controlling games with is intelligence and technical ability.
It’s also hard to accept that being better than Stones is the height of his talent – as big a compliment as it is. Rice is running games, he’s anchoring defences and attacks and he’s actually getting bigger and better with every game – and he’s still not 20.
But Rush was gushing over the three-times Irish senior player.
Better than John Stones – Declan Rice tipped for the top by @Ian_Rush9 & @GKPaulRobinson!#beINPL #SOUWHU 📺 HD11 pic.twitter.com/V8MBJuNO8d
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) December 27, 2018
After the game, Rice was alongside Aaron Cresswell to dissect the win as the Sky Sports studio raved about him too.
"He is our in-form man and long may that continue"
Declan Rice and Aaron Cresswell react to #WHUFC's win over #Saintsfc
📱 Watch reaction live on Sky Sports PL or follow along here: https://t.co/swrfewL3Wl pic.twitter.com/5iIT53WDLb
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 27, 2018
