SPECIAL PRIDE RICE

Moyes hails influence of midfielder and says the brilliant 21-year-old is a future Hammers skipper

DAVID MOYES says Declan Rice is carrying West Ham and has tipped him to one day take over from Mark Noble as captain.

But while the Irons boss hopes he never has to sell his prize asset, who is under contract until 2024, he claims he does not fear losing the England midfielder.

And even if the worst happens and these turn out to be the 21-year-old’s last few months at the crisis club, Moyes insists they would cope.

West Ham are in the bottom three ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Manchester City with protesting fans in uproar and co-owner David Sullivan warning of “serious financial consequences” if they are relegated.

But Moyes said: “I don’t agree with you that it’s his last few months. I agree it’s the last few months of the season and we need Declan to be right on it and show everything he’s got.

“For a young boy, Declan has had to take the big responsibility and he’s the one who will carry on from where Mark Noble was when it comes to an end for Mark Noble.

“Declan is carrying a lot of the team at the moment. In his opening game or two for me, he was sensational.

“I thought, ‘Wow, you’ve really stepped up to the plate’. Declan has been there every minute of every game. At the moment, he is arguably the best holding midfield player in the country.”

Moyes admitted last month that struggling teams sometimes end up losing their best players, and he is aware that Rice remains firmly on Manchester United’s radar.

But he knows from taking Everton into the Champions League the year after he was forced to sell Wayne Rooney to United that even if Rice departs the club will survive.

Moyes said: “Quite often in the story of building a football club you have to sell, you may have to do it. It’s just the way on the journey. I hope it’s not the case with Declan.

“But I said the same with Rooney and the team still got better because we were able to make sure we got the right people in and made sure that we signed

the right players. If that ever came around I’d hope we’d be able to do it. But I hope it doesn’t come around.

“Have I ever spoken to him about his future? Never, only about the next game. To be fair, Declan’s never mentioned it. He’s been totally focused in his training and his commitment.”

Moyes brought in former Hammers captain Kevin Nolan and ex-brighton coach Paul Nevin this week to boost his backroom team after a run of six games without a win.

Nolan said: “It feels incredible to be back. I can’t wait to get stuck into it. I’ve seen enough from the lads in training, but they know the task ahead.

“We’ve all been in these situations before – we all know what’s needed and we’re very confident that we can get there.”